Dancing with the Queensland Ballet

Year 9 student (as of 2022) David Windeyer has been accepted into the Queensland Ballet’s prestigious Academy Program, starting from the beginning of 2023.

David will train with the Queensland Ballet for four years, with each day split between half a day of dance and half a day of academic studies with Kelvin Grove State College (Queensland Ballet’s partner college).

Being accepted into the program is an impressive accomplishment in itself, but it's even more impressive given David has only been performing ballet for two years.

David began learning contemporary dance at QL2 Dance studio in Braddon in 2017, but it was joining the Year 7 Curriculum Dance Class at Radford College two years ago that enabled David’s ballet to flourish.

Radford College’s Director of Movement and Performing Arts Dance Teacher, Danielle White, noticed David’s natural talent for ballet during her Year 7 Dance Classes.

With some gentle encouragement from Ms White, and additional practice at MAKS Ballet Studio in Mitchell since 2021, David has gracefully risen into the Queensland Ballet. The young dancer practises six days per week.

David now considers ballet a future career, something he never would have believed if you’d told him in Year 7.

“It’s definitely something I fell into thanks to Ms White. If I hadn’t taken her class or received her encouragement, I would have stuck with contemporary dance,” David said at the time of writing in 2021.

“I can pursue ballet professionally after completing the four years with Queensland Ballet. My teachers have put a lot of effort into preparing me in the two short years for this.”

David is the first to pursue dance in his family, which is right behind him.

“My family is very excited. Although, the closer we get, the more it’s dawning on us that this will be a big change, but I’ll be back in the holidays,” said David.

Ms White congratulated David on behalf of Radford Dance and wished him all the best.

“This achievement is rare, and a dream come true for those learning ballet their whole lives, let alone only 2 years!” said Ms White. “I am very excited to see where David's journey takes him.”