The BEST episodes of Dance Academy

Every episode of Dance Academy ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dance Academy!

Fifteen-year-old Tara Webster has grown up on a farm in country Australia and has dreamt of being a dancer ever since she was a little girl. Her life takes a turn when she makes it into the National Academy of Dance - the best ballet school in the country. What Tara doesn’t realise is how far behind she is in her training, and that there’s a whole lot more to surviving the Academy than just dancing. The ballet world is full of tough competition, and Tara must work hard to maintain her position in the academy, whilst dealing with the distraction of friends, classmates and especially boys.

Last Updated: 12/26/2023Network: ABC3Status: Ended
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The Second
star
9.44
54 votes

#1 - The Second

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/23/2012

After a sudden tragedy, the Academy students must find a way to come together and help each other out in this time of darkness.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Not For Nothing
star
9.31
45 votes

#2 - Not For Nothing

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/30/2013

It's judgment day. The Third Years sit before the Company panel and learn their fate - who will be offered a professional contract with the National Ballet Company and who will have to find a new dream?

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The Prix De Fonteyn
star
9.22
51 votes

#3 - The Prix De Fonteyn

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/19/2012

Sammy decides to alter his Prix de Fonteyn solo one day before the start of the International Round while Tara is stunned as Grace has returned to Sydney as a representative for the UK Prix team. The students' lives are changed forever when a tragedy strikes the Academy.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Writer: Liz Doran
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Perfect Storm
star
9.21
47 votes

#4 - A Perfect Storm

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/23/2013

Auditions for the National Ballet Company have arrived bringing superstitions, old competitive battle lines and the performances that will determine the rest of their lives.

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Ladder Theory
star
9.17
46 votes

#5 - Ladder Theory

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/16/2012

The Academy students experience stinging prejudice from the judges during the National Round of the Prix de Fonteyn, just as Sammy's father visits the competition to watch his son dance for the first time in years.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Don't Let Me Down Gently
star
9.13
47 votes

#6 - Don't Let Me Down Gently

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/2/2013

A career-making performance opportunity brings out the best and worst in everyone, and an injury that sidelines Ollie prompts him to use someone to get ahead. Meanwhile, Kat finds it hard to readjust to her regular ballet life.

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Catch Me If I Fall
star
9.09
46 votes

#7 - Catch Me If I Fall

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/10/2012

During an excursion to the circus, Christian's dad makes promises he's unable to keep. Tara tries to repair her friendship with Kat and Sammy goes public about his new romance.

Directors: Ian Watson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Showcase
star
9.09
47 votes

#8 - Showcase

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/2012

Showcase, a breakout event in the commercial dance calendar, is fast approaching. When Sebastian questions the impressiveness of Ethan's piece, a solo with Abigail, Ethan rushes to include a chorus of dancers, including Grace. His sudden change backfires when it's clear Abigail doesn't appreciate sharing the choreography with other dancers. Christian's old friend Kaylah comes back into his life, asking for his help to perform a piece at Showcase which sparks Tara's jealousy.

Directors: Ian Watson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Win or Lose
star
9.09
47 votes

#9 - Win or Lose

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/17/2012

Grace's father retracts a promise to visit her at the Academy, her self-assurance spirals. Grace continues to make a play for Zach's attention, leading her to manufacture a serious accusation. Christian's resolve to bounce back from his Prix de Fonteyn elimination drives him toward some reckless behaviour.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rescue Mission
star
9.06
49 votes

#10 - Rescue Mission

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/3/2012

Whilst recovering from her broken back, Tara discovers a hidden side to Ben who is volunteering in a hospital leukaemia ward performance. Back at the Academy, Kat struggles with the culture shock of First Year.

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Love and War
star
9.04
48 votes

#11 - Love and War

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/9/2012

The escalating conflict between the first and second year students results in a hip-hop dance battle to determine which year has the greatest talent, and Tara becomes unhinged when Grace entices her to become less serious.

Directors: Ian Watson
Writer: Emily Ballou
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Real Men Don’t Dance
star
9.03
92 votes

#12 - Real Men Don’t Dance

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/4/2010

Sammy is forced to choose between dance and his father when compulsory Saturday ballet classes clash with his Synagogue services; and Christian struggles to accept the rules of the Academy.

Directors: Jeffrey Walker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Live It or Fight It
star
9.02
50 votes

#13 - Live It or Fight It

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/18/2012

During rehearsals for 'Peter Pan' Ben tries a variety of tactics to prove to Tara that he's a leading man, while Kat's efforts to research her character in the production lead to a realisation about her relationship with Christian.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Graceland
star
9.02
50 votes

#14 - Graceland

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/19/2013

The Third Years are having the time of their lives on the road performing in country towns across Australia, but they are prioritising fun over performance. Zach promises to shake up the cast list if they don't start committing. A different side to Grace emerges on tour, while competition between Ben and Christian erupts and Abigail tries to distance herself from what happened in Barcelona. Back at the Academy, Kat clashes with the movie's third assistant director, Jamie.

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Like No One's Watching
star
9.00
48 votes

#15 - Like No One's Watching

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/20/2012

Sammy's little brother Ari arrives at the Academy, throwing Sammy's hectic schedule into havoc and Kat auditions to be a football cheerleader, happily encouraged by Ben. Meanwhile Tara is having self esteem issues when it comes to the looks department.

Writer: Emily Ballou
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Connectivity
star
9.00
50 votes

#16 - Connectivity

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/22/2012

Tara decides to take action after realising that Saskia's continual critique of her dancing could jeopardise her mid-year exams. Christian ditches his pas de deux exam to hang out with Kat. Wired on energy drinks, an overtired Sammy kids himself that he's blitzing exams and puts Abigail in danger as a result of his behaviour.

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N'FEKTD
star
9.00
49 votes

#17 - N'FEKTD

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/9/2013

Christian and Ollie prepare for Streetbeatz, a major hip hop competition; Kat prepares to audition for a minor role in Coppelia; and Ben takes a stab at revenge.

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A Good Life
star
9.00
49 votes

#18 - A Good Life

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/27/2012

Sammy returns home for his Grandpa Morrie's funeral and to ask his father to support his Academy tuition. While an act of sabotage severs frenemies Tara and Abigail, Kat auditions for the Moulin Rouge.

Directors: Ian Gilmour
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Minefield
star
8.99
91 votes

#19 - Minefield

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/3/2010

The first years are given trust exercises to help build a connection with their pas de deux partners. Tara is frustrated when Christian refuses to participate, Kat feels betrayed by Tara's secret crush on her brother, and Sammy finds himself tied to Abigail for 24 hours.

Directors: Jeffrey Walker
Writer: David Olgily
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Backstab
star
8.98
48 votes

#20 - Backstab

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/2/2012

Determined to prove Saskia wrong, Tara risks serious injury and possible expulsion to compete in the Prix de Fonteyn Preliminary Round. Kat is on top of the world when she's allowed back into the Academy.

Directors: Ian Gilmour
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Start of an Era
star
8.98
48 votes

#21 - Start of an Era

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/16/2013

The countdown to the final Company auditions has begun when suddenly it becomes a whole new playing field; and Christian and Tara come to a final resolution about their relationship.

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Tick, Question Mark, Cross
star
8.98
45 votes

#22 - Tick, Question Mark, Cross

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/12/2012

Abigail's best efforts to balance her ballet commitments with the fringe musical splinter when a leaked staff email discounts her chances in the Prix de Fonteyn. Her situation intensifies when her over-supportive mother, Anthea, unexpectedly arrives at the Academy. Meanwhile, Sammy tires of Ollie's persistent criticism.

Directors: Ian Watson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
New Rules
star
8.96
51 votes

#23 - New Rules

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/15/2013

On their first day as fill-in dancers, Tara, Grace and Ben encounter cliques in the corps de ballet. Meanwhile, Christian has no interest in going back to the Academy.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Red Shoes
star
8.94
51 votes

#24 - The Red Shoes

Season 2 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/24/2012

Abigail and Tara join forces to go head-to-head with a formidable enemy. Christian has to choose between the girl he loves and his desire to escape and Ben is offered an opportunity of a lifetime.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Nationals
star
8.94
47 votes

#25 - The Nationals

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/11/2012

Tara opens herself up to love again and hunts for a new crush. Finn, the director of a fringe musical, tries to convince Abigail to be the star of his new show, and Grace goes to extreme lengths to get Zach's attention.

Directors: Ian Watson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV