australian television information archive

Glue

Episode 3.01
Monday, July 08, 2013 (6:00, ABC3)
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Watson

It's three weeks into third year and Tara and her friends are already feeling the pressure. Speculation bubbles when the National Ballet Company announces it needs three temporary fill-in roles in the corps de ballet. Instead of remaining focused, Tara jeopardises her preparation for this audition when she tries to organise a surprise birthday party for Abigail.

Meanwhile, Christian is mysteriously absent and no one knows if he'll return to the Academy; Ollie's been allowed to repeat third year; Grace continues her training at the Academy, but her relationship with the others is strained; and Kat attempts to fast track into third year.

Starring: Xenia Goodwin as Tara Webster, Alicia Banit as Kat Karamakov, Dena Kaplan as Abigail Armstrong, Isabel Durant as Grace Whitney, Jordan Rodrigues as Christian Reed, Thomas Lacey as Ben Tickle, Keiynan Lonsdale as Ollie Lloyd

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Lauren Elton as Lulu

Note: the third and final 13-episode series of Dance Academy was filmed from August to November 2012

New Rules

Episode 3.02
Monday, July 15, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Josh Mapleston
Directed by Ian Watson

On their first day as fill-in dancers, Tara, Grace and Ben encounter cliques in the corps de ballet. Meanwhile, Christian has no interest in going back to the Academy.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Brooke Harman as Saskia Duncan, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca, Jason Chong as Raf, Rohan Browne as Hugo, Cariba Heine as Isabelle, Arianne Putnam as Vesha, Matt Levett as Brick, Jesse Hyde as Maroubra Kid, Maia Henville as Young Girl, Adam Jackson as Stunt Skater, Leroy Page as Christian Motorbike Double

Second Chances

Episode 3.03
Monday, July 22, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Liz Doran
Directed by Ian Watson

Kat struggles to stay positive and her determination to advance into Third Year is morphing into dangerous patterns. Meanwhile, Grace plays match-maker, and Christian's lost his place at the Academy.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Nick, David Woodley as Marcus Kane, Trevor Ashley as Penny Drops, Cariba Heine as Isabelle, Anna Volska as Lady Charlton, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Manelaya Kaydos-Nitis as Lilith the Contortionist

Short Cut Clause

Episode 3.04
Monday, July 29, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ian Watson

Ben is flattered when Saskia offers to be his mentor and it becomes clear there's potential for them to dance together brilliantly. Lured by the promise of greatness, Ben is torn between the chance to fast-track his ambitions and his loyalty to Tara. Abigail and Christian disturb everyone with their unlikely friendship.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Kelley Abbey as Meeka, Brooke Harman as Saskia Duncan, Rohan Browne as Hugo, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Cariba Heine as Isabelle, Arianne Putnam as Vesha, Nancy Dennis as Commercial Dancer

Negative Patterns

Episode 3.05
Monday, August 05, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Ian Watson

With the Company's Sydney season of Giselle coming to an end, it's almost time for Grace, Tara and Ben to give up their temporary places. However, Saskia has different plans for her protégé, Ben, and arranges a special audition with the Company's artistic director.

Meanwhile, Grace's world implodes when she's rejected by her new friends and Miss Raine confides that her new romance with Marcus has become more serious. Plus, Zach continues to give Christian special treatment by allowing him to participate in a music video Ollie is producing.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca, Brooke Harman as Saskia Duncan, David Woodley as Marcus Kane, Cariba Heine as Isabelle, Rohan Browne as Hugo, Rainee Lyleson as Eloise

Fake It Until You Make It

Episode 3.06
Monday, August 12, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Greg Waters
Directed by Ian GIlmour

While the Third Years rehearse for their upcoming regional tour, the Academy goes a little Hollywood when a film crew arranges to use their building as a location for a new indie movie. Abigail defies Miss Raine and auditions for one of the minor acting roles.

Meanwhile, love might be in the air but the right people aren't cast as Romeo and Juliet. Grace does everything she can to undermine a new relationship so that her position on the tour is guaranteed.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Andrew Lees as Wes, Richard Brancatisano as Rhys, Sophie Lee as Gabrielle, Kelley Abbey as Meeka, Suzi-Anne Ryan as Maeve Whitney, Angus Furnell as Dancer

Graceland

Episode 3.07
Monday, August 19, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ian GIlmour

The Third Years are having the time of their lives on the road performing in country towns across Australia, but they are prioritising fun over performance. Zach promises to shake up the cast list if they don't start committing.

A different side to Grace emerges on tour, while competition between Ben and Christian erupts and Abigail tries to distance herself from what happened in Barcelona. Back at the Academy, Kat clashes with the movie's third assistant director, Jamie.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Sean Keenan as Jamie, Richard Brancatisano as Rhys, Sophie Lee as Gabrielle, Andrew Lees as Wes Cooper, Lynden Wilkinson as Barb, Alexander Steedman as Little Boy, Jan Oxenbould as Hose Nana, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Gil Balfas as Policeman, Shane Rahkola as Camera Assistant, Paul Mailath as Gerald The Grip

Travelling Light

Episode 3.08
Monday, August 26, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Melina Marchetta
Directed by Ian Gilmour

On the final leg of their tour, the Third Years are invited to a traditional Indigenous ceremony and return the hospitality by offering a dance class to the local kids. Christian finds he is an unexpectedly good teacher, while Tara and Ben struggle with the realisation that their onstage chemistry is underwhelming.

Meanwhile, Abigail tries to claim the solo role in the contemporary ballet but is blocked by past disappointment; and Kat's insecurities grow until an inevitable confrontation forces her to see an enemy in a new light.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Christine Anu as Summer, Andrew Lees as Wes Cooper, Sean Keenan as Jamie, Sophie Lee as Gabrielle, Kamil Ellis as Jayden, Glen Doyle as Song Man, Keileah Turagakula as Tildy, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Deborah Piper as Cleaning Lady [Mary]

Don't Let Me Down Gently

Episode 3.09
Monday, September 02, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Courtney Wise
Directed by Ian Gilmour

A career-making performance opportunity brings out the best and worst in everyone, and an injury that sidelines Ollie prompts him to use someone to get ahead.

Meanwhile, Kat finds it hard to readjust to her regular ballet life.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Sean Keenan as Jamie, Richard Brancatisano as Rhys, Andrew Lees as Wes Cooper, Sophie Lee as Gabrielle, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca

N'FEKTD

Episode 3.10
Monday, September 09, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Liz Doran
Directed by Daniel Nettheim

Christian and Ollie prepare for Streetbeatz, a major hip hop competition; Kat prepares to audition for a minor role in Coppelia; and Ben takes a stab at revenge.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Sean Keenan as Jamie, Tony Cogin as Dr Lieberman, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Mana Ogawa as Lily, Kamil Ellis as Jayden, Didier Cohen as DJ, Noah Taliba as Jayden Hip Hop Double

Empire Crew: Stephen Gow, Chris Merriman, Haroun Oualli, Terence Castro, Jarod Gonzalez

Hip Hop Crews: Jordan Hill, Kieran Crowe, Leo Chan, Alexander Cross, William Bryant, Chris Chino, Jonathan Castro, Jorden Lahood, Talia Kuo, Adam Dionisio

Judges: Melissa Costalos, Mashum Liberta, Jason Nepla

Start Of An Era

Episode 3.11
Monday, September 16, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Josh Mapleston
Directed by Daniel Nettheim

The countdown to the final Company auditions has begun when suddenly it's a whole new playing field, and Christian and Tara come to a final resolution about their relationship.

Kat joins forces with Ben and Grace to inject some fun back into the end of the school year and Abigail and Ollie get the offer of their lives but at the worst time possible.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine [uncredited], Kip Gambin as Zach [uncredited], Barry Otto as Sir Jeffrey, Jessica Mauboy as Herself, Brooke Harman as Saskia Duncan, Kelley Abbey as Meeka, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca Braithwaite, Andrew Lees as Wes, Lauren Elton as Lulu, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Lana Jones [Suzi-Ann Ryan] as Saskia Ballet Double

The Perfect Storm

Episode 3.12
Monday, September 23, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Daniel Nettheim

The dancers have finally reached the ultimate test as auditions for the National Ballet Company have arrived. These auditions bring superstitions, old competitive battle lines and the performances that will determine the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Kat struggles with life in the spotlight and how much it means to her to be a success.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Brooke Harman as Saskia Duncan, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca Braithwaite, Sean Keenan as Jamie, Margaret Pomeranza & David Stratton as Movie Show Hosts, David Woodley as Marcus, Richard Brancatisano as Rhys, Vanessa Gray as Jan Webster, Steve Vidler as Neil Webster, Jason Chong as Raf, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Neil Sharma as Courier

Note: Samatha Strauss' script for this episode was won an Australian Writers' Guild Award in the category of Children's Television. Her script for episode 3.13 was also nominated along with Josh Mapleston's script for 3.02

Not For Nothing

Episode 3.13 (series finale)
Monday, September 30, 2013
Original story by Samatha Strauss
Written by Samatha Strauss
Directed by Daniel Nettheim

During the final episode of Dance Academy, it's judgment day. The Third Years sit before the Company panel and learn their fate — whether they'll be offered a professional contract with the National Ballet Company or not.

Meanwhile, one of the gang is transported on a very different journey.

With: Tara Morice as Miss Raine, Kip Gambin as Zach, Alyssa McClelland as Rebecca Braithwaite, Anne Looby as Dr Wicks, Vanessa Gray as Jan Webster, Steve Vidler as Neil Webster, Cameron Stewart as Dr Cameron, David Woodley as Marcus, Andrew Lees as Wes