The BEST Episodes of Dance Academy
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: May 19, 2021
Network: ABC3
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.
#1 - Not For Nothing
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired Sep 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?
9.39 
#2 - The Prix De Fonteyn
Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired Apr 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.
9.35 
#3 - The Second
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired Apr 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.
9.33 #4 - A Perfect Storm
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired Sep 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.
9.18 
#5 - Minefield
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Jun 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.
9.17 
#6 - Showcase
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired Mar 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.
9.17 
#7 - Don't Let Me Down Gently
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired Sep 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.
9.16 
#8 - Real Men Don’t Dance
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired Jun 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.
9.15 
#9 - The Deep End
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired Jul 2, 2010
Rehearsals for 'The Nutcracker' are underway and Tara discovers that being the star is not all it's cracked up to be. Sammy is forced to admit that his feelings for Christian have changed.
9.10 
#10 - Catch Me If I Fall
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired Apr 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.
9.09 
#11 - Rescue Mission
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired Apr 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.
9.08 
#12 - Love and War
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired Apr 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.
9.06 
#13 - Connectivity
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Mar 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.
9.06 #14 - Graceland
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Aug 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.
9.06 
#15 - Ladder Theory
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired Apr 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.
9.04 
#16 - Win or Lose
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired Apr 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.
9.02 
#17 - Heatwave
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired Jul 1, 2010
In the weeks since the court hearing, Sammy and Christian have been inseparable. In fact, they've made a pact of brotherhood — from now on, they will forget all about girls. Sammy is elated; he's never had such a good guy friend. However, when Christian ditches Sammy to spend time with Tara, what Sammy feels is uncomfortably a lot like jealousy. What if he likes Christian as more than just a friend? Meanwhile, auditions for the end of year production of The Nutcracker are upon them and Kat and Ethan's father — the internationally acclaimed Sebastian Karamakov — is directing the ballet. Who will make it and who will walk out of the auditions?
9.02 #18 - N'FEKTD
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired Sep 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.
9.02 
#19 - Learning to Fly, Part 2
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired Jul 5, 2010
The end-of-year production has arrived and Tara is rehearsing her solo in Act 2 of The Nutcracker. Director Sebastian Karamakov is not happy with her performance and threatens to put Abigail in her place. When Tara gets her costume fitted she learns many famous ballerinas have also worn the same nightgown — giving her a new boost of confidence. But when Abigail hides Tara's costume, trouble starts again and Tara's best friend, Kat is not around to help. Kat has left for a road trip with musician Myles Kelly. Meanwhile, Sammy faces reality when he learns his parents are refusing to pay for his tuition at the Academy next year, regardless of his good marks. Sammy begs his father to come to the end-of-year performance, believing that if he saw him dance he'd change his mind.
9.02 
#20 - Flight Or Fight Response
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired Jun 29, 2010
The date for Christian's robbery hearing has been set but his defence strategy relies on his best mate, and co-accused, Aaron admitting that he was the one who brought the knife to the robbery. However, Aaron has vanished leaving Christian with slim hope that he will avoid juvenile detention. Meanwhile Tara has been working hard in rehab and the time has come for her to go back to dancing but she fears she will injure herself again. Ethan has been her coach, using the time he spends with Tara to avoid signing his company contract, because he's no longer sure it's what he wants. They both realise they need to face their fears in order to reach their dreams.
8.96 
#21 - Backstab
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired Apr 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.
8.96 
#22 - Live It or Fight It
Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired Apr 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.
8.94 
#23 - A Good Life
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired Mar 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.
8.94 
#24 - The Nationals
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired Apr 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.
8.94 
#25 - The Red Shoes
Season 2 - Episode 26 - Aired Apr 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.
8.92