Youth Ballet WA (YBWA)

What Youth Ballet WA (YBWA) does

Youth Ballet WA (YBWA) is an ACNC-registered not-for-profit pre-professional ballet school operating from purpose-built studios at 74-76 Goodwood Parade, Burswood, Western Australia. Founded in 2005 by Sonya Shepherd and inspired by her mother Terri Charlesworth's legacy, the school delivers structured Vaganova Method ballet training to students aged 8-18 via an audition-based admissions process. It operates four dance studios (10x10m to 14x12m) equipped with sprung floors, mirrors, pianos, and air-conditioning, and has held Curriculum Council endorsement to deliver Year 11 and 12 ATAR Dance Studies since the ATAR pathway's accreditation, enabling students to graduate with WACE and an ATAR ranking while training.

The core product portfolio comprises three tracks: a Full-Time Pre-Professional Program (ages 12-18) spanning seven progressive Vaganova levels with classical, Pas de Deux, pointe work, contemporary, Spanish, Pilates, and strength & conditioning; an After-School Program offering up to 14 hours of weekly tuition to students continuing mainstream schooling; and an Interstate and International Students Program with video-submission auditions. The school is differentiated by an integrated support stack: academic delivery through partnerships with the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) and Australian Christian College (ACC), health and wellbeing services via Element Occupational Therapy, Applied Motion Physiotherapy & Podiatry, Dr Catherine Properzi, and Youth Focus, plus a structured performance season at His Majesty's Theatre, Crown Theatre, and State Theatre Centre. Faculty includes former soloists from West Australian Ballet, Singapore Ballet, Mikhailovsky Theatre, Israel Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet, plus a Vaganova Academy graduate as Artistic Coordinator.

Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring school fees as the primary funding source, tax-deductible donations and community fundraising, and merchandise sales via an online store. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors (Chair Zrinka Highfield, Treasurer Amanda Sparks, plus members including founder Sonya Shepherd), operates as an independent charity incorporated in Western Australia, and reports no parent company, subsidiaries, or external equity ownership. Distribution is direct to consumers (students/families) via annual September auditions and Trial Days, with no enterprise sales motion, intermediaries, or digital channel beyond the website and social media.

Name

Youth Ballet WA (YBWA)

Legal name

Youth Ballet WA Inc

Website

https://youthballetwa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Youth Ballet WA is a not-for-profit pre-professional ballet school in Burswood, Western Australia, delivering Vaganova Method training to students aged 8-18. It combines elite dance instruction with ATAR-eligible academics, health support, and professional performances, funded by school fees and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Pre-professional ballet training
• Classical ballet education
• Vaganova method instruction
• Youth dance programs
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Burswood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Fees: Youth Ballet WA is currently funded entirely through school fees, which support the day-to-day running of programs and the delivery of high-quality training.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Ongoing support from patrons and donors plays a vital role. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. Fundraising includes raffles and direct donation options.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise items such as products priced at $20.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Youth Ballet WA delivers pre-professional ballet training following the Vaganova Method to students aged 8-18, through a Full-Time Pre-Professional Program, After-School Programs (Foundation and After-School), an Interstate and International Students Program, and structured performance seasons at professional Perth venues. Programs integrate classical ballet, pointe work, Pas de Deux, variations, repertoire, contemporary, improvisation, Spanish dance, Pilates, and strength & conditioning, alongside academic studies (WACE/ATAR) and health/wellbeing support.

Product overview

Youth Ballet WA operates as a unified pre-professional ballet school offering a portfolio of integrated programs. The core offerings include the Full-Time Pre-Professional Program for dancers aged 12-18 and After-School Programs for ages 8+. Supporting programs include Interstate and International Student Programs, Performances and Stage Examinations, Academic Studies (ATAR Dance), Bursaries, and Health and Wellbeing Services. A merchandise/donation store provides additional support pathways. All programs follow the Vaganova Method (Russian ballet syllabus) and are delivered at the purpose-built studios in Burswood, Western Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Time Pre-Professional Program A pre-professional training pathway for dedicated dancers aged 12-18 aspiring to a career in classical ballet, providing seven progressive levels of Vaganova training (classical ballet, Pas de Deux, Variations, Repertoire, Pointe Work, Contemporary, Improvisation, Spanish Dance, Strength & Conditioning, and Pilates) integrated with WACE and ATAR academic studies.
• After-School Programs (Foundation & After-School) Pre-professional dance training for students aged 8-18 who continue regular academic schooling, comprising the Foundation Program (ages 8-11) focused on ballet fundamentals (posture, alignment, coordination, strength, flexibility, musicality) and the After-School Program offering up to 14 hours of dance tuition per week.
• Interstate and International Students Program Training program welcoming students from across Australia and globally, offering immersion in Western Australia's ballet community with instruction in Classical, Spanish, and Contemporary dance, accessible via video submission for initial assessment.
• Performances and Stage Examinations Structured performance season including April Production Season, Annual Gala Performance, Stage Examinations, and End of Year Production, with students performing classical ballet repertoire, contemporary works, Spanish dance, and original choreography at His Majesty's Theatre, Crown Theatre, and State Theatre Centre.
• Health and Wellbeing Services Holistic student care program providing access to reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, strength and conditioning, nutrition guidance from a qualified dietitian, counselling and emotional support, injury prevention, recovery, and physical conditioning services in partnership with external health providers.
• Donations and Merchandise Store Online store offering merchandise and tax-deductible donations (AUD 2 or more) to support the not-for-profit ballet school.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates successfully transition into professional companies, trainee programs, and international contracts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents are enrolled with SIDE for their academic studies, attending scheduled classes one morning each week while completing coursework at YBWA studios using SIDE online learning platforms.
• Australian Christian College (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-time students can also enroll with ACC for their academic studies, providing an alternative to SIDE for completing WACE and ATAR requirements while in the pre-professional dance program.
• Element Occupational TherapysupportingOthersKatie, a qualified and registered occupational therapist and former YBWA student, provides occupational therapy services to support student wellbeing and development.
• Applied Motion Physiotherapy & PodiatrysupportingOthersMulti-disciplinary team across physiotherapy, podiatry, and remedial massage with a world-class training facility and rehab philosophy supporting YBWA student health.
• Perth GI - Dr Catherine ProperzisupportingOthersAccredited Practising Dietitian providing practical, evidence-based nutrition guidance to support student health, wellbeing, training, and performance.
• Youth Focus - BurswoodsupportingOthersMental health services provider supporting students in over 50 schools and community settings across WA, helping young dancers access emotional support.
• Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative performance partnership bringing flamenco and jazz music to life through dynamic choreography and performance by Youth Ballet WA dancers.
• Caleb Walker FilmminorOthersProvides professional photography and film documentation of YBWA events, capturing performances, milestones, and special occasions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elmhurst Ballet School: One of the UK's leading pre-professional ballet training schools, offering full-time and after-school programs for aspiring dancers aged 11-19. Comparable in curriculum depth, audition-based entry, and pipeline to international companies, and competes with YBWA for international student recruitment.
• Australian Ballet School: Australia's flagship pre-professional ballet training institution, offering full-time and part-time programs leading to professional careers. Directly comparable to YBWA in mission (vocational ballet training), student demographic (aspiring professional dancers aged ~12-18), and pathway outcomes, though at significantly greater national scale and recognition.
• Tanya Pearson Academy: Sydney-based pre-professional ballet academy also following the Vaganova method, offering full-time and after-school programs for aspiring dancers. Highly comparable to YBWA in syllabus, age range, audition-based admission, and international graduate placement, and a key Australian competitor for the same talent pool.

Broad incumbents

• Paris Opera Ballet School: France's national pre-professional ballet school feeding directly into the Paris Opera Ballet. Comparable in offering elite vocational training with a defined methodology and producing graduates for top-tier professional companies; an aspirational benchmark for Vaganova-trained students.
• National Ballet School of Canada: One of North America's premier ballet training institutions offering full-time professional programs and an affiliated dance teacher training program. Comparable scale and mission, and an international benchmark for graduate outcomes in the global ballet pipeline.
• West Australian Ballet: The state professional ballet company based in Perth and YBWA's primary local industry partner; many YBWA alumni progress to WA Ballet. Overlaps with YBWA's training pathway and performance ecosystem, though WA Ballet is a performing company rather than a pre-professional school.
• Royal Ballet School: The UK's flagship pre-professional ballet school associated with The Royal Ballet. Comparable training pathway and graduate outcomes, and a global benchmark against which schools like YBWA measure their own prestige and curriculum rigor.
• Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet: The St Petersburg academy that originated the Vaganova method taught at YBWA. Several YBWA senior teachers are graduates. As the source of the syllabus, it represents both the methodological anchor for YBWA and the most prestigious direct competitor for international Russian-method students.

Emerging players

• Singapore Ballet (and associated training): Singapore's professional ballet company that also operates training and outreach programs in the Asia-Pacific region. Comparable regional positioning to YBWA within the Asia-Pacific ballet ecosystem, and a destination for some YBWA alumni (e.g., former Singapore Ballet soloist now teaches at YBWA).

Regional players

• Princess Grace Academy of Monaco: Highly selective European pre-professional ballet school associated with the Monte Carlo Ballet. YBWA's Artistic Advisor Terri Charlesworth previously taught there. Comparable in prestige and audition-based selectivity, though operating in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-ballet-wa-ybwa

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Ballet WA (YBWA)