The Australasian Classical Gala is an exciting new initiative designed to benefit the entire dance ecosystem in Western Australia – from emerging young students through to pre-professional artists seeking the next steps. ACG provides a prestigious platform for dancers of all levels to gain exposure, perform on an international stage and connect with leading industry professionals, creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of classical and contemporary artists, right here in WA.
We spoke to ACG’s Co-Founder Leanne Curtis about this incredible opportunity and how it came to be.
“The catalyst for creating the Australasian Classical Gala came from recognising a significant gap for dancers in Western Australia. Classical and contemporary ballet dancers often have to leave Perth, and Australia, to attend international competitions and intensives simply to be seen and progress their careers,” Leanne said.
“Ultimately, the vision is to create a platform where dancers can access world-class opportunities locally and only leave when they are truly ready. Or perhaps not at all.”
Perhaps ACG’s most important mission is to challenge a popular narrative that West Australian dancers need to leave home at a young age and venture interstate or international to be successful.
“Providing opportunities for WA dancers to remain in Perth longer is incredibly important, both physically and mentally. Leaving home to pursue a dance career is a significant step and should happen at the right time, when a dancer is truly prepared, not driven by pressure or fear of missing out,” says Leanne.
“By strengthening local collaboration and opportunities, and challenging the perception that success requires leaving Perth, we can help dancers progress at the right time and reduce early talent loss.”
Focusing on collaboration, rather than competition, ACG brings schools together under one shared platform, to foster a stronger, more connected dance community across Perth and regional WA. It creates a space where teachers, students, and institutions can engage with one another, share knowledge, and collectively elevate classical and contemporary dance in the state.
ACG offers two days of workshops led by internationally recognised ballet professionals, educators, and former principal artists; performance opportunities; and education seminars designed to support dancers beyond technique alone. Alongside training and performance, ACG offers learning around wellbeing, mindset, career direction, and professional development.
With scholarships, professional training pathways, and international company connections available, participants can gain exposure to career-defining opportunities while remaining connected to their local training base. ACG is offering over 80 scholarships worth $70,000 total, plus $20,000 in prize money.
For dancers seeking adjudication, coaching, scholarship opportunity, and performance experience across the event, they can choose the Scholarship Entry. Alternatively, the General Entry provides a performance pathway for solo, duo/trio, pas de deux, and ensemble entries across a range of styles and age groups.
In addition to WA participants, students will also be attending from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, and the east coast.
“This creates a rich and inspiring environment where local dancers can connect with peers from different countries, training backgrounds, and perspectives, something that traditionally required significant travel,” Leanne explains.
“Ultimately, the focus is not only on opportunities for WA dancers, but on positioning WA as a place of opportunity, where dancers from everywhere come together, and where local dancers can grow without feeling they need to leave too early to be part of something bigger.”
The Australasian Classical Gala will be held on Saturday 4 July – Tuesday 7 July at Perth Modern School. For more information, and to register, head to www.acgala.com.au. Registrations close 31 May 2026 or once the event is full. Early entry is recommended.
