Inside Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year

For young dancers with professional aspirations, the successful leap from student to artist is all about self-discovery – uncovering who you are as an artist. Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year (PPY) bridges that gap and furnishes students with boldness, creativity, and clarity. Now entering its second decade, PPY has earned a reputation for producing versatile, self-assured, and creatively empowered artists. We spoke with current PPY2 students Alice Collins and Sophie Donald, and Rehearsal Director Richard Cilli, to find out more.

Alice Collins had a few years of university study under her belt and was uncertain about committing to full-time dance for multiple years. “What really helped me settle on PPY,” she explains, “was the fact that it was only a one- or two-year program. Having the option to do just one year and still leave with a Diploma was comforting during a time of uncertainty. I didn’t hesitate to stay a second year.”

Similarly, Sophie Donald was drawn to the program as a means to evolve. “Coming from a classical ballet background, I was eager to expand my practice,” she says. “PPY felt like a space where I could grow, take risks, and start discovering who I am as an artist.”

What they discovered went beyond technical learning; it was a profound personal transformation. “This environment really is a pressure cooker for change,” Collins says. “Every day you walk out of the studio, who you are shifts ever so slightly.”

The PPY curriculum prides itself on its holistic, nurturing, artist-led approach. Dancers aren’t just absorbing choreography, they’re engaging with the creative process itself, thanks to a rotating roster of practicing choreographers and guest artists.

“PPY focuses on developing the dancers’ creative voice,” explains Rehearsal Director Richard Cilli, who is also choreographing for the PPY 2025 season. “It’s not just about perfecting steps. It’s about being confident contributors. Thinking, questioning, making, and performing with authenticity.”

For Donald, this open exploration has transformed her practice. “We’re constantly encouraged to bring our most authentic selves into the space,” she says. “One of my biggest takeaways is that intention is everything. I’ve learned that to be interested is to be interesting.”

Collins echoes the same sentiment. “The biggest thing I’ve learnt is the importance of just showing up for yourself. You’re not training or moving for anyone else — just you.”

Both dancers describe being surprised by how deeply they connected with improvisation and creation – areas that initially felt intimidating. “Now, it’s one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of my practice,” says Sophie. “The open environment really encouraged me to lean into the unknown.”

Creative exploration is built into the fabric of PPY, from open improvisation sessions to industry collaborations. “Being able to move and express yourself in a room that’s so open and supportive is such a unique and profound experience,” Collins reflects. “Those sessions leave me feeling a little bit lighter.”

Donald highlights two standout experiences: developing a dance film and working with Hofesh Shechter Company’s Zee Zunner. “It felt like a dream come true,” she says. “I left those few weeks feeling creatively recharged and deeply inspired.”

So what’s next? For both students, the answer is full of possibility.

“I’m not 100 percent sure where the world will take me,” Collins admits, “but this training has prepared me to approach everything with openness, confidence, and creativity.”

Donald is keen to join a professional company, whether in Australia or abroad. “The program has equipped me with tools for both company work and independent projects. As long as I’m dancing and creating, I’ll be happy.”

Cilli is equally optimistic about the dancers’ futures. “There’s so much talent in the room,” he says. “I know they’ll make their mark and create amazing art.”

For aspiring artists looking to take risks, push boundaries, embrace their individuality, and prepare for an authentic life in dance, Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year offers more than just training; it offers transformation.