Dance Academy: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3

In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated

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Episode 2.01
Monday, March 12, 2012 (6:30, ABC3)
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Watson

After a perfect summer holiday with her boyfriend Christian, Tara returns to the Academy to begin her second year. On her arrival is the news that the Prix de Fonteyn — a very prestigious ballet competition — will be hosted in Sydney. Tara is excited to be chosen to perform a solo in the launch celebration at the Opera House, but faces some serious competition in the form of Grace — a beautiful young dancer who studied at the Royal Ballet School and is Miss Raine's goddaughter.

Excited to reconnect with her friends Kat and Sammy, it quickly becomes apparent to Tara that it will be a strange year as Sammy works multiple jobs to pay his tuition and BBF Kat is no longer at the Academy. Abigail has undertaken counselling during the break and tries to transform herself into a 'nice' person; and to the surprise of Christian and ex-girlfriend, Abigail, Sammy is also kissing lots of girls in the little spare time he has.

Starring: Xenia Goodwin as Tara Webster, Alicia Banit as Kat Karamakov, Dena Kaplan as Abigail Armstrong, Issi Durant as Grace Whitney, Tom Green as Sammy Lieberman, Jordan Rodrigues as Christian Reed, Thomas Lacey as Ben Tickle, Tim Pocock as Ethan Karamakov

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gamblin as Zach, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Victoria Hill as Natasha Willis, Jessica Tovey as Jess, Julie McGregor as Therapy Group Leader, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Rachel Bevan as Daisy

Company Dancers: Chylie Cooper, Christopher Favoloro, Angus Furnell, Rhys Kosakowski, Tegan Lowe, Paul Walker, Kalman Warhaft, Sarah Williams

Percussionists: Michael Askill, Cameron Kennedy, Rebecca Lloyd Jones, Stephanie Mudford

Note: series two of Dance Academy was filmed in Sydney from January 31 to August 04, 2011

Dream Life

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Episode 2.02
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Liz Doran
Directed by Ian Watson

Tara finds a new mentor to admire in Saskia Duncan, the youngest principal dancer in the Company's history. Saskia takes Tara under her wing, but gives her a few things to worry about; like is there a future with Christian if he's not committed to becoming a principal dancer like she is?

Feeling threatened by the inclusion of 'effortlessly perfect' Grace, and with 'nice' Abigail now a distant memory, Abigail endeavours to dig up the dirt on Grace's background to find a reason to have her dismissed. She's aided by her doting First Year minions, and finds they can really help a bruised ego.

Meanwhile, Kat struggles to find her feet at a normal school and Christian bucks the discontinuation of hip hop in the Academy curriculum by teaching it to students in a secret class.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gamblin as Zach, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Brooke Harman as Saskia (uncredited), Kevin Jackson as Saskia's Prince, Lana Jones as Saskia's Ballet Double, Zika Nester as Tikkinova, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Gabrielle Scollay as Lexie, Simonne Moffitt as Company Dancer, Brad Moffitt as Company Dancer

Note: just like in episode 1.02, creator/writer Samantha Strauss' name appears on the class list.

Faux Pas De Deux

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Episode 2.03
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Ian Watson

Kat finally makes friends with the coterie of outcast girls at school, but despite having sworn off dancing, finds herself helping them choreograph a piece for drama class and approaches Tara, Sammy and Christian to help her teach the schoolgirls.

First Year student Ben Tickle is upgraded to Second Year. He's cute and brimming with energy but has a knack of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Uninhibited, he throws himself a 'welcome to Second Year party' and attempts to find new mates in Christian and Sammy.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gamblin as Zach, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Victoria Hill as Natasha Willis, Gabrielle Scollay as Lexie, Isabelle Cornish as Elke, Ashleigh Cummings as Trilby, Rachael Coopes as Miss Fawsie, Georgie Sekulla as Darcy, Mikayla Williams as Marysa, Zika Nester as Tikkinova, William Carter as Office Worker, Courtney Chircop as Shop Assistant, Miguel Sebastian as Policeman

Legends

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Episode 2.04
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Keith Thompson
Directed by Ian Watson

Tara's ecstatic when her mentor, Saskia, is appointed to teach the Second Years at the Academy while she recovers from an ankle injury. But she rapidly discovers that 'perfect' Saskia may not be the supportive teacher she hoped for...

Ethan draws courage in his own abilities as a choreographer and the resolve to forge his own path. Meanwhile, Sammy's decision to pay his own tuition leaves him scrambling to make ends meet. He desperately attempts to become a skilled waiter, and starts to master the role until Miss Raine discovers his extra-curricular occupation.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Simonne Moffitt as Company Dancer, Brad Moffitt as Company Dancer, Jessica Tovey as Jess

Showcase

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Episode 2.05
Monday, March 19, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Keith Thompson
Directed by Ian Watson

Showcase, a breakout event in the commercial dance calendar, is fast approaching. When Sebastian questions the impressiveness of Ethan's piece, a solo with Abigail, Ethan rushes to include a chorus of dancers, including Grace. His sudden change backfires when it's clear Abigail doesn't appreciate sharing the choreography with other dancers.

Christian's old friend Kaylah comes back into his life, asking for his help to perform a piece at Showcase which sparks Tara's jealousy.

Special Guest Susie Porter as Anne Black

With: Peter O'Brien as Sebastian Karamakov; Victoria Hill as Natasha Willis; Kat Risteska as Kaylah; Patric Kuo, Liam Masters, Kieran Crowe & Garrett Griffiths as Commish Crew; Ray Chong Nee as Showcase MC; Katie McMahon, Holly Gibellini Davis, Morgan Choice & Pania Taku as Deluge Crew

Like No One's Watching

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Episode 2.06
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Emily Ballou
Directed by Lynn-Maree Danzey

Sammy's little brother Ari arrives at the Academy, throwing Sammy's hectic schedule into havoc and Kat auditions to be a football cheerleader, happily encouraged by Ben. Meanwhile Tara is having self esteem issues when it comes to the looks department.

Special Guest Susie Porter as Anne Black

With: Kip Gamblin as Zach, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Narek Armaganian as Ari, Nadia Komazec as Jordana, Tony Cogin as Dr David Lieberman, Curtis Fernandez as Danny The Photographer

A Choreographed Life

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Episode 2.07
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Lynn-Maree Danzey

Tara's concern about the time she spends with Christian impacting her dance study leads to her to suggest they 'pause' their relationship. Ben tries to impress Kat through an ambitious choreography assignment. Meanwhile, Grace has cause to be jealous when Abigail and Ethan continue to work closely together.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Brooke Harman as Saskia

Connectivity

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Episode 2.08
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Lynn-Maree Danzey

Tara decides to take action after realising that Saskia's continual critique of her dancing could jeopardise her mid-year exams. Christian ditches his pas de deux exam to hang out with Kat. Wired on energy drinks, an overtired Sammy kids himself that he's blitzing exams and puts Abigail in danger as a result of his behaviour.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gamblin as Zach, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Jessica Tovey as Jess, Rachael Coopes as Miss Fawsie, Isabelle Cornish as Elke, Gabrielle Scollay as Lexie, Charlotte Old as Charlotte, Cody Ettinghausen as George, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks

The Break

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Episode 2.09
Monday, March 26, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Josh Mapleston
Directed by Lynn-Maree Danzey

With exams finally over, and, with one night of freedom, both the boys and the girls go on a mission to prove they'll have more fun without each other. However, Sammy is tense after failing his exams, Tara's still hurting from her breakup, and Grace decides to stir up trouble.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gamblin as Zach, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Joe The Bouncer, Lauren Clair as Enid; Southdockers: Nacho Pop, Tristan Young, Mao Aikawa, Naohisa Aikawa, Takahiro Hikiyama

A Good Life

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Episode 2.10
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Roger Monk & Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Sammy returns home for his Grandpa Morrie's funeral and to ask his father to support his Academy tuition. While an act of sabotage severs frenemies Tara and Abigail, Kat auditions for the Moulin Rouge.

Special Guest Susie Porter as Anne Black

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Tony Cogin as Dr David Lieberman, Narek Armaganian as Ari, Monique Spanbrook as Jackie Lieberman, Queenie Van De Zandt as Aunty Sara, Lola Nixon as Bubbeh Rose, Jolene Anderson as April, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence as Rabbi

Self Sabotage

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Episode 2.11
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Shanti Gudgeon
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Grace encourages Tara to take action against Saskia's spiteful treatment of her; Kat commences training for the Moulin Rouge which leads her to a big realisation, and Sammy is assigned a Third Year, Ollie, as a tutor to get him through his exams.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Keiynan Lonsdale as Ollie, Jolene Anderson as April, Stacey Kenealy as Jade

Breaking Pointe

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Episode 2.12
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Saskia's bullying of Tara results in a painful injury. Kat convinces Miss Raine to grant her an audition to return to the Academy but has to let Abigail train her.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Keiynan Lonsdale as Ollie, Ryan Johnson as Dr Dave

Backstab

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Episode 2.13
Monday, April 02, 2012
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Gilmour

Determined to prove Saskia wrong, Tara risks serious injury and possible expulsion to compete in the Prix de Fonteyn Preliminary Round. Kat is on top of the world when she's allowed back into the Academy.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Steve Vidler as Neil Webster, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Brooke Harman as Saskia, Brendan Galinie as Bitchy Boy, Steven Heathcote as Steve Heathcote, Keiynan Lonsdale as Ollie, Ryan Johnson as Dr Dave

Episodes 40 - 52