About

A summer intensive just for boys

The Twentieth-Second Boys' Summer School will be held from December 28, 2026 – January 2, 2027 at The McDonald College, Strathfield.

This is a summer intensive just for boys. It is conducted by top teachers and choreographers, and caters to boys who are passionate about dance. Classes are given in Ballet, Repertoire, Contemporary, Jazz and Character. The Summer School ends with a Showcase, to which parents and friends are welcome.

Our celebrated Artistic Director, Adam Bull, has assembled an outstanding team of tutors. Boys at all levels of experience are encouraged to enrol.

Classes

There will be three levels: Junior, Intermediate and Advanced. Boys up to the age of and including 10 years will initially be enrolled in the Junior class. Any upward movements will be determined on the first day and discussed with parents.

Boarding

Boys aged 11 and over are encouraged to board, for which there is no additional fee. As boarding capacity is limited, preference will be given to those not resident in Sydney. The McDonald College boarding facilities are modern and comfortable, with kitchen/breakfast area and recreational facilities.

Juniors

Juniors may attend as day students. There are various levels of accommodation nearby in the Olympic Park precinct for those from outside Sydney staying with their parents.

Excursions

It's not all in the studio! One of the objectives of the Boys' Summer School is for boys who are passionate about dance to make new friends and to enjoy social interaction and outings with like-minded others. Past excursions have included visits to the Olympic Aquatic Centre, Luna Park and Manly Ferry. The middle day is usually spent at Raging Waters.

Mission Statement and Background

The first Boys' Summer School in 2005 stemmed from a collaboration between Robert Fox, Theatre Operations Manager at Shore School, and the highly respected Sydney dance academy, Alegria Studios, to jointly develop an annual, national event that would provide an opportunity for young male dancers to join together for a week of technical development and social interaction with others from around the country and overseas with similar interests and aspirations.

Our artistic directors have included some of the most distinguished names in the dance world, including Bill Pengelly, Christian Tatchev, Danilo Radojevich, and in 2021 we welcomed one of the Australian Ballet's most celebrated Principal Artists, Adam Bull. Our tutors are equally distinguished and have included Li Cunxin, Steven Heathcote, and well known artists in the Australian Ballet including Jarryd Madden, Marcus Morelli, Chengwu Guo, Tim Harbour, Cameron Holmes and Jake Mangakahia.

The ultimate goal of the Summer School is that boys will find increased affirmation and encouragement to further their studies in the art form, in the knowledge that there are many others around the country and around the world who share their passion.