australian television information archive

Turning Pointes

Episode 1.14
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Tara returns from the school holidays on top of the world — she has great friends, a gorgeous boyfriend, the first year scholarship, and is finally allowed to dance en pointe. Kat introduces Tara to her new boyfriend Lucas, a 'diplobrat' she met while on holiday with her mother in Europe. Tara immediately dislikes him but doesn't reveal her aversion to Kat, who convinces Tara to go to a warehouse party in the city which ends in Tara calling Christian for help. What has Kat done to make Tara upset? Meanwhile, Abigail is struggling to convince her therapist to allow her to return to ballet classes after her collapse last semester. Sammy, who has been her constant companion throughout the holidays, tries to convince Abigail to help him out with the ballroom dance classes that he is giving for his grandmother and her friends.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Socratis Otto as Adam The Psychologist, Andrew Hazzard as Lucas, Dorian Nkono as Solomon, Lola Nixon as Bubbeh Lieberman, Jack Webster as Joe, Carmel Mullin as Greta

Note: Greg Waters' script for this episode was nominated for a 2010 Australian Writers' Guild Award (AWGIE)

My Life En Pointe

Episode 1.15
Friday, June 18, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Sam Carroll
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

Petra Hoffman arrives at the Academy on exchange from the Berlin Ballet School. Homesick, she adopts a lost dog and attempts to conceal him in the Boarding House. Kat has been ditching class to spend time with her new boyfriend and her punishment is to teach ballet to a class of underprivileged kids. Tara ends up kissing Christian behind Ethan's back, leaving her feeling guilty and confused.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Maria Dragus as Petra, Robert Alexander as Mr Kennedy, Ashleigh Ross as Scout, Travis Cardona as Gus, Andrew Hazzard as Lucas

Free Falling

Episode 1.16
Monday, June 21, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

Kat is upset when her parents ignore her 16th birthday and throws herself a huge party at their harbourfront home in revenge. The house quickly fills with people and events spiral out of control when Kat's boyfriend Lucas tries to take advantage of her while she is drunk. Luckily, Christian manages to save her from Lucas but the situation goes from bad to worse when the police are called to shut the party down. Meanwhile, Abigail causes trouble when she aquires a photo of Tara kissing Christian.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Maria Dragus as Petra, Robert Alexander as Mr Kennedy, Andrew Hazzard as Lucas, Matt Lee as Sean, Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie, Claire Cohen as Hazel, Elle McLeod as Older Girl #1, Camelia Mowbray as Older Girl #2, Conor Fogarty as Pashing Boy

A Midsummer's Night's Dream

Episode 1.17
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

It is school camp and everyone is dreading the trip away, especially Tara who has been made an outcast following the party. Kat still isn't talking to her and Tara is further humiliated when photos of her kissing Christian keep appearing everywhere. Tara believes Kat is the culprit and confronts her about it. Meanwhile, Abigail has been banned from dance class until she completes an English essay and Sammy has been assigned as her tutor.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Maria Dragus as Petra, Deborah Kennedy as Miss Histead, Josef Brown as Patrick, Cariba Heine as Isabelle, Matt Lee as Sean, Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie, Claire Cohen as Hazel, Stephen Multari as Tim

Betty Bunheads

Episode 1.18
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Alicia Walsh
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

German exchange student Petra Hoffman is thrilled when she is invited to stay at the Academy. However, when the Berlin Ballet Company offers her a contract, she has a difficult choice to make — her lifelong dream or the chance to spend the next few years as a teenager? Whilst Abigail is making more trouble for Tara, Kat tries to make amends after having disappointed a younger dancer. At the same time Sammy and Abigail have begun secretly kissing, but while Sammy wants the relationship public, Abigail insists it remains behind closed doors.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Maria Dragus as Petra, Ashleigh Ross as Scout

Fairest & Best

Episode 1.19
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by David Hannam
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Junior footballers from the Institute of Sport have been sent to the National Academy for a week of specialised training in order to improve their elevation, coordination and flexibility. Tension between the footballers and male dancers erupts and they set a challenge to prove who has the toughest sport. The footballers must learn a routine and dance it with no mistakes, while the ballet boys must score once against the footballers in a game of touch football. Meanwhile, Tara is caught up in her own competition; Miss Raine has pitted her against Abigail in nightly private classes, intending to use their rivalry to drive each other harder.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Josef Brown as Patrick, Chris Foy as Jai, Burgess Abernethy as Ollie, Matt Lee as Sean, Stephen Multari as Tim, Zika Nester as Tikkinova

Ballet Fever

Episode 1.20
Friday, June 25, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Ellie Beaumont
Directed by Ian Gilmour

When the Board decides to cut hip hop and jazz from the curriculum Kat goes on the warpath, blaming her mother for this change. Tara and Christian find themselves together at the beach and their spark is rekindled, so much so that they lose track of time and are running late for the Patron's Showcase performance when Tara trips and badly injures herself.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Robert Alexander as Mr Kennedy, Victoria Hill as Natash Karamakov, Rani Luther as Natasha Dancing Double, Matt Lee as Sean, Millie Spencer-Brown as Shelley, Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie, Claire Cohen as Hazel, David Dennis as Hip Hop Teacher, Inge Sildnik as Tara Stunt Double

FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out

Episode 1.21
Monday, June 28, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ben Chessell

It's a month since Tara's injury and her plaster is due to come off, but Tara seems more focused on her new boyfriend, Christian, and planning the school formal than she is in attending her doctor's appointment. Meanwhile, Sammy and Abigail decide to take their relationship to the next level the night of the formal. Ethan is offered an early contract with the Company.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Stuart McRae as Damien, Stephen Multari as Tim, Matt Lee as Sean

Flight Or Fight Response

Episode 1.22
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Liz Doran
Directed by Ben Chessell

The date for Christian's robbery hearing has been set but his defence strategy relies on his best mate, and co-accused, Aaron admitting that he was the one who brought the knife to the robbery. However, Aaron has vanished leaving Christian with slim hope that he will avoid juvenile detention. Meanwhile Tara has been working hard in rehab and the time has come for her to go back to dancing but she fears she will injure herself again. Ethan has been her coach, using the time he spends with Tara to avoid signing his company contract, because he's no longer sure it's what he wants. They both realise they need to face their fears in order to reach their dreams.

With: Robert Alexander as Mr Kennedy, Josef Brown as Patrick, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Kat Risteska as Kaylah, Henry Nixon as James - Legal Aid Lawyer

BFF: Best Friends Forever

Episode 1.23
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Greg Waters & Samatha Strauss
Directed by Cherie Nowlan

Today, Christian faces his punishment for the robbery. But when Aaron returns, Christian's conscience gets the better of him and he changes his story to protect his friend. Concerned by his decision, Sammy enlists the help of Christian's oldest friend Kaylah to try and convince him to change his mind. Meanwhile, Ethan has received interest from a dance company in Spain who are looking to take on young choreographers.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Josef Brown as Patrick, Robert Alexander as Mr Kennedy, Luke Bracey as Aaron, Kat Risteska as Kaylah, Henry Nixon as James - Legal Aid Lawyer, Matt Lee as Sean, Morgan Choice as Patrick's Dance Partner, Neil Sharma as Delivery Guy

Heatwave

Episode 1.24
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by David Hannam
Directed by Cherie Nowlan

In the weeks since the court hearing, Sammy and Christian have been inseparable. In fact, they've made a pact of brotherhood — from now on, they will forget all about girls. Sammy is elated; he's never had such a good guy friend. However, when Christian ditches Sammy to spend time with Tara, what Sammy feels is uncomfortably a lot like jealousy. What if he likes Christian as more than just a friend? Meanwhile, auditions for the end of year production of The Nutcracker are upon them and Kat and Ethan's father — the internationally acclaimed Sebastian Karamakov — is directing the ballet. Who will make it and who will walk out of the auditions?

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Josef Brown as Patrick, Zoe Ioannou as Paige, Matt Lee as Sean, Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie

The Deep End

Episode 1.25
Friday, July 02, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Cherie Nowlan

Rehearsals for The Nutcracker are underway. Tara is playing the role of Clara and quickly discovers that being the star is not all its cracked up to be as Abigail's claws re-emerge. Sammy is forced to admit that his feelings for Christian have moved beyond that of just friendship and Myles Kelly returns to rescue Kat from the costume dungeon where she has been exiled since walking out of her audition.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Josef Brown as Patrick, Adam Saunders as Myles Kelly, Socratis Otto as Adam The Psychologist, Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie

Learning To Fly, Part 2

Episode 1.26
Monday, July 05, 2010
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by EasyShare ZD15
Directed by Cherie Nowlan

The end-of-year production has arrived and Tara is rehearsing her solo in Act 2 of The Nutcracker. Director Sebastian Karamakov is not happy with her performance and threatens to put Abigail in her place. When Tara gets her costume fitted she learns many famous ballerinas have also worn the same nightgown — giving her a new boost of confidence. But when Abigail hides Tara's costume, trouble starts again and Tara's best friend, Kat is not around to help. Kat has left for a road trip with musician Myles Kelly. Meanwhile, Sammy faces reality when he learns his parents are refusing to pay for his tuition at the Academy next year, regardless of his good marks. Sammy begs his father to come to the end-of-year performance, believing that if he saw him dance he'd change his mind.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Adam Saunders as Myles Kelly, Matt Lee as Sean, Monique Spanbrook as Mrs Lieberman, Narek Armaganian as Ari Lieverman, James Fraser as Production Runner, Chloe Bayliss as Young Natasha, Suzi-Ann Ryan as Olga, Fenella McKirdy as Josephine, Alysha Chan as Audition Girl

Note: a second series has been confirmed, production will begin in Sydney late January 2011