About YBWA
Our Vision
Our vision is threefold: for ballet, and dance in all its forms, to be widely accessible by all members of the public; to strengthen the rich fabric of the West Australian performing arts fraternity; and, to gain local, national and international acclaim for the innovation and excellence shown in the technical and artistic development of the gifted young dancers in our care.
Our Company
YBWA is committed to providing valuable and unique training and performance opportunities to its dancers whilst creating a strong and lasting connection between the community and the performing arts.
YBWA celebrates its long association with Terri Charlesworth, and, along with its dancers and their families, constantly draws inspiration from the love, passion, wisdom and devotion Ms Charlesworth has demonstrated to the dance world since 1960.
Our Staff
The staff members of YBWA are among the most dedicated, skilled, passionate and artistic throughout the world. All are highly trained, acclaimed and respected in their areas of expertise which include classical, contemporary and Spanish dance, education and arts management.
Our Dancers
The vibrant, talented and energetic YBWA dancers perform regularly to all sectors of the community with a constant striving for excellence. YBWA dancers pursue with passion, drive and dedication, careers as professional dancers. They work diligently to balance full time dance training and regular performances with a matched enthusiasm and commitment to academic studies.
Our dancers are trained, rehearsed, nurtured and directed by professional artists of the highest calibre, resulting in our student’s talents knowing no boundaries; their dedication having no limits and their passion being truly inspirational to all they encounter.
History and Purpose of Youth Ballet WA
While YBWA was established in 2004, its history dates back to 1960 when Artistic Advisor Terri Charlesworth established the Terri Charlesworth Ballet Centre. A team of valued teachers, dancers and administrative staff have developed over the years instilling in YBWA a strong foundation from which to foster the development and promote the work of young dance artists from all over Australia and the world. YBWA now attracts in excess of 20,000 people to its many events every year and is committed to developing this audience base further. YBWA is recognised throughout artistic circles and has earned a fine reputation for excellence and quality.
The Objectives of Youth Ballet WA are to:
- provide opportunities for gifted young dancers to promote the joy of dance to the wider community and promote dance as an art form for everyone to enjoy;
- protect the integrity of classical ballet; provide an atmosphere to foster young people’s creativity in dance;
- provide opportunities for emerging and established artists to create and present new works;
- provide opportunities for the dancers to work with international guest artists and teachers;
- train young dancers to the highest calibre so that they may have the best opportunities for scholarships to international schools and employment in the future; and
- introduce an orchestra component.
