Queensland Ballet Academy’s $1 Million Dollar Fundraising Target

Queensland Ballet’s Annual Giving Day Supporting The Next Generation Queensland Ballet ’s annual Giving Day has set a bold target this year: the Company aims to raise $1 million to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation of artists at Queensland Ballet Academy .

The annual fundraising appeal runs from 9am-9pm Thursday (August 8), with this year’s funds directed towards Queensland Ballet’s official training school – the Academy which, unlike its NSW and Victorian counterparts, receives no funding from the Federal Government.

The Academy’s Head of Operations, Gabrielle Johnston stated that stagnant government funding, combined with the post-pandemic economic climate and rising hard costs creates an urgent need for the Company to focus this year’s Giving Day appeal on the Academy’s operational costs.

“The Academy offers some of the world’s best professional ballet training, and these funds will be directed towards our world-class teaching faculty, pianists, allied health staff, business and administration staff, artistic and production costs, and much-needed bursaries and scholarships,” Ms Johnston said.

With a purpose-built learning and training facility, Queensland Ballet Academy is a unique training organisation for dancers from age 6 through to professional employment. Its full-time Years 7 – 12 program allows students to undertake face-to-face academic studies alongside their professional ballet training, all on the one site at Kelvin Grove State College.

Over the past decade, the Academy has engaged almost 10,000 young dancers through its full-time, part-time and holiday programs, and events. Since moving into its purpose-built site in 2020, Academy enrolments have increased by 89 per cent and in 2024, provides professional training to 247 full-time students.

Recently returned from Singapore to adjudicate for the International Ballet Grand Prix, Academy Director, Christian Tàtchev reiterated that Queensland Ballet is an internationally recognised industry leader.

“Although our Academy is young, 50 per cent of our Company dancers are our own alumni. Our graduates are celebrated at prestigious international competitions and events, with many enjoying careers all over the world, putting Queensland and Australia on the global stage,” he said.

The Academy also contributes to the vitality of ballet in Queensland, as well as the art form globally. In 2024, the team launched The Ballet Boys Project , an important initiative offering free weekly classes to boys aged 11 – 14 at the homes of the Queensland Ballet Academy (Kelvin Grove), and Queensland Ballet (West End). The project seeks to address the significant decline in male enrolments in the Academy and across professional dance training institutions globally, a problem that could create sustainability issues for the art form.

Queensland Ballet Executive Director Dilshani Weerasinghe said the Academy is committed to its community and to helping foster a vibrant and enduring dance industry.

“The Academy is one of our strongest and most enduring connections to our community. Queensland Ballet has been providing training to budding young dancers for over 56 years and we hope to continue to foster the blazing talent and keen ambition of local and international young dancers for many years to come.

If young people and their families are choosing to chase their dreams here in Queensland, then we’re stepping up to do all we can to support them.

Our Academy receives much needed support from the Queensland Government’s Department of Education however doesn’t receive any funding from our Federal Government. So, we work harder on our own steam and on the steam generated by our supporters to make sure that dreams can come true here in Queensland.

Our Giving Day leans into our community, leans into those who believe that young people who choose to chase their ballet dreams in Queensland deserve their best opportunity.”

Acting Artistic Director Greg Horsman said Giving Day can help to make a difference in the lives of many young dancers.

“This year’s focus is about giving our children, our future artists and stars, the means to thrive in this fantastic art form. Queensland Ballet and our Academy would not be where it is today without the generous support of our donors and sponsors who share our vision.”

A sentiment echoed by Ms. Weerasinghe.

“Ultimately when we think about the future, we think about our young people. Our Giving Day is about our community coming together to support the next generation of artists and their dreams.

Queensland Ballet is a charity with heart. We couldn’t be more grateful to you for keeping us, keeping our young people on their toes, despite the odds,” she concluded.

This weekend the annual showcase of the rising young stars of dance, the Queensland Ballet Academy Gala is sold out. But there will be other opportunities to watch the performers on November 29-30 at the End of Year Demonstration, and from December 5-7 when Soiree – an evening of visual art, dance, and live music is performed at the Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre.

Queensland Ballet’s annual Giving Day is this Thursday 8 th of August, starting at 9am. The initiative will see each donation quadrupled by the Company’s visionary match donors, so a donation of $10 becomes $40, $100 becomes $400, and $10,000 becomes $40,000.