Newcastle's National College of Dance Marks Golden Anniversary
Newcastle’s National College of Dance is celebrating fifty years since Marie Walton Mahon OAM founded it in 1974 as the Marie Walton Dance Academy.
Marie’s passion and dedication transformed her modest studio into the Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy, a prestigious institution renowned for producing dancers who grace professional stages worldwide.
In 2007, Marie's commitment to excellence in dance education led to the founding of the National College of Dance (NCD). Established as a Registered Training Organisation, students experience a unique fusion of academic education and elite dance training. In 2008, Marie passed the ownership of the Academy and College to Michele and Tony Bayliss but remained as the Artistic Director for a number of years.
Recognising the need for continued leadership and innovation, Marie appointed Brett Morgan OAM as Artistic Director to lead NCD in 2010, ensuring her legacy of excellence would endure and flourish.
Confident in Brett's ability to uphold the high standards of the college and junior academy, Marie embarked on her next venture: sharing her innovative Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) program. This methodology, emphasising safe dance training, has gained international acclaim and is now taught in over 40 countries. At 70, she is ready to step back from teaching, secure in the knowledge that her vision will continue under the guidance of the many tutors she has mentored.
Under Brett Morgan’s leadership, the National College of Dance has reached new and extraordinary heights, evolving into one of Australia’s top dance training facilities. Brett Morgan OAM, owner and Artistic Director of NCD, grew up in Lansvale, NSW. With a passion for dance and committed parents who would drive him the threehour round trip to classes in Sydney, Brett’s prestigious dancing career has taken him from the Australian Ballet to the Sydney Dance Company, from principal dancer to Associate Artistic Director under Graeme Murphy OA and Janet Vernon OA, to dancing all over the world and teaching some of the best dancers in the world.
“I am deeply committed to providing world class teaching to dancers in regional areas because of my own experiences growing up,” said Brett.
“I would teach a class in my old hometown once a week when I was with Sydney Dance Company, and it was there that I met a lovely pianist named Jenny Pickering. Jenny worked for Marie Walton Mahon, and her playing was so wonderful that I engaged her to play for Sydney Dance Company for the next decade. It was through her that I learnt of the opportunity to take over from Marie, and with the support of my wife Vicki, we moved to Newcastle with our two children to take over the running of the NCD.”
“My family has supported my dreams, and I have absolutely no regrets about moving to Newcastle or taking over NCD. I am doing what I was born to do. I would now never move back to Sydney. I love Newcastle, the vibe, and the direction the city is taking.” Brett added.
NCD has established itself as a critical and prodigious player in the cultural arts of the region, priding itself on an inclusive approach to dance education, inspiring and educating dancers from as young as 12 months old to adults over 50 and for those who dance purely for enjoyment to aspiring professionals with their sights set on an international career.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue an incredible legacy of dance within Newcastle. Newcastle dancers are known all over the country and internationally, and we feel we have a responsibility to continue the incredible standard of training right from our very youngest dancer to those who wish to continue a career in dance,” Vicki explains.
Tiny Tots classes for pre-schoolers and the Junior Academy offer dance classes in classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz dance, lyrical dance, musical theatre, hip hop, and acrobatics. There are also Adult Classes, Boys- Only classes, and the popular and successful Intensive Training School Sports Program and the Associate Program. NCD utilises the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabi, and the teachers are RAD-trained. Throughout the Registered Training Organisation, NCD offers Certificate in Dance full-time programs through to Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Professional Dance (Elite Performance)
“NCD has always had a history of incredible staff who also share the vision of offering beautiful classes to its dancers. Not only are our teachers highly trained, but they also understand that dance is both technical and is also enjoyed and danced from the soul, so a beautiful balance happens in the classroom of fun and enjoyable classes trained with wonderful technique and precision,” Brett continued.
Brett and his team of teachers and choreographers are very proud to acknowledge the many students who have competed in major international and national competitions, such as the Prix De Lausanne and the Youth American Grande Prix (in 2022, NCD student Joe Dufty won). There have been multiple NCD winners of the Sydney Eisteddfod Scholarship who have gone on to have incredible careers in the world of dance. This year, NCD Diploma student Mia Leishman won the Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge, with NCD Diploma student Cooper Edwards coming third in the Contemporary and Choreography Challenge.
Over the years, NCD has developed an outstanding reputation for 100 per cent successful placements of graduating students securing work with dance companies across the globe.
“We provide a space where young dancers can be educated and supported for their individuality within a structured yet freely creative environment,” said Brett. “We believe in supporting our students as individuals.”
“Dance has evolved too, and we ensure that we flex and change with that. There’s been a real emergence of contemporary dance in the past 30 years; many of the classical pieces are being reworked with contemporary components, so we are now placing equal value on contemporary and classical ballet and the more commercial dance style – musical theatre and jazz.
“We have outstanding creative influences in Jake Burden (Creative Director), Debbie Linnert, Elise Frawley Timothy Gordon, and Montana Doyle, who guide and mentor our teachers in the industry's updates and changes.” Brett continues.
“Moving forward, collaboration will continue to be a key component. We’ve been successfully collaborating with other performing arts organisations and charities, and we’ve just started doing corporate events to provide opportunities for our students to perform in high-quality productions.”
Recent events have included the Light the Way Illumini Gala performance, Billy Elliot and Superstars with The Very Popular Theatre Company, charity events such as the Sydney Chocolate Ball and Ronald McDonald House Raise the Love Ball, and the corporate event, the 75th Anniversary of Porsche Newcastle. The Junior Academy and College also performed at the Sydney Eisteddfod, winning the Open Classical Ballet and Open Lyrical sections and placing and receiving HC in most of their other sections.
Collaborations over the years have included Klash with composer Cyrus Meurant and leading Australian percussionist Michael Askill; Imperial Russian Ballet - Nutcracker - providing dancers for the child parts; Romeo and Juliet score with Matthew Hindson, Cyrus Meurant and Nexus Quartet; Symphony No. 4 by Johan De Meij and Australian Premier with Dr Ian Cook and the Newcastle Wind Orchestra and Waratah Girls Choir; Peter and the Wolf with Artistic Director and Conductor Dr Ian Cook, Ghillian Sullivan and Newcastle Youth Orchestra; Lord of the Rings with Artistic Director and Conductor Dr Ian Cook and the Newcastle Wind Orchestra;
An upcoming work with Indigenous composer Jacob Cummings and Artistic Director Dr Ian Cook and the Newcastle Wind Orchestra - Rising through the Ashes – will be part of this year’s New Annual Festival.
Another exciting event on the NCD calendar and an important part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations includes a special cocktail party on 28 July for all current and past students and their families to reunite across the decades, reconnect, and celebrate the lasting impact of the college and the excellence that it has achieved. Founder Marie Walton Mahon OAM will attend, and Actress and former full-time student Chloe Bayliss will represent her parents. It will be held at the QT Rooftop. All past families can attend. Tickets are $60pp and can be purchased at www.trybooking.com/CRWBS.
As this special anniversary year draws to a close, NCD is planning a spectacular Celebratory Gala on Wednesday, 18 December, at the Civic Theatre as a dazzling showcase of talent, featuring performances by current students and special guests.
With its commitment to excellence and inclusivity, the National College of Dance continues to shape the future of dance
education and inspire generations of dancers. To enrol in a class and for more information, visit www.nationalcollegeofdance.com.
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