Image: O&J Wikner Photography

The Major Project

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The Major Project 〰️

The 2026 Major Project has been cast and is now in creative development.

THE PROJECT 

The 2026 Major Project is an immersive new work that includes film and live performance. Successful dancers will work collaboratively with professional choreographers and designers to create the hour-long work across a six-month period, with focused rehearsals during the January, April and July school holidays. 

We are seeking a small, dedicated ensemble of dancers, willing to dive bravely into ideas that are emerging; slowly and together, we will determine our final creation. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be deeply immersed in the creation of an original dance work, and not for the faint-hearted! 

ELIGIBILITY 

Our annual Major Project is designed for dancers who are serious about dance and contributing to an original choreographic creation - they may also be considering a career in dance. 

It is our most intensive opportunity for young dance artists. Participation is strictly by audition. Clear guidelines are in place to ensure young dancers are ready for this commitment and experience: 

  1. Dancers turning 10 in 2026 and aged above are eligible to audition. 

  2. Dancers must have participated in at least one QL2 program during 2025. 

  3. Dancers must include their full availability for the project schedule (see below) on application. 

Please note, some absences may not be permissible. 

 

Dancers will be considered for the project based on the audition, as well as their most recent, demonstrated engagement with QL2 programs. This includes consistent attendance, as well as ability to:  

  • focus and work independently,  

  • contribute creatively and  

  • work collaboratively with fellow dancers and choreographers. 

PROJECT SCHEDULE 

  • INTENSIVE 1: 19-31 January (no rehearsal 24-26 January)  

  • Term 1 Sundays – cast members required to be broadly available for filming, schedule TBA  

  • INTENSIVE 2: 7-17 April  

  • Term 2 Sundays – cast members required to be broadly available for rehearsals, schedule TBA  

  • INTENSIVE 3: 6-17 July  

  • PRODUCTION WEEK: 20-27 July (performances 24-27 July)  

PROJECT FEE   

Our Major Production is heavily subsidised at $595 per dancer. 

The project fee includes 300 hours of rehearsal and performance facilitated by professional choreographers and designers, a fully produced performance season in a professional performance space, lighting and sound design, costumes, marketing, professional photography, project management and a project t-shirt. 

Project fees are due before the project begins. Payment plans are also available. Additionally, QL2 Dance has a limited number of bursaries available to support dancers and families in need. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • We will accept 12-15 dancers for this project.

  • The best way to audition is to attend on 16 November. If this is impossible for you, please indicate on your application form that you are unable to attend, and QL2 staff will be in touch with an alternative way for you to audition. Please note that it might not be possible to consider applications received after the deadline (Friday 7 November.)

  • We understand that the project schedule is a significant commitment for young people and their families – and there may be pre-existing commitments that are not easily changed. In this instance:  

    Please include all clashes you have with the project schedule on your application form – the more information you provide us, the better. Post-audition, if you are successful, QL2 staff will review these clashes in relation to the overall schedule and: 

    • Be in touch with you to discuss any clashes not easily approved, or 

    • Confirm pre-approved absences in your personal schedule. 

    Please note that absences arising once the project is underway (planned or unplanned) may impact your ongoing involvement in the production. 

  • This nominal administrative fee supports the organisation and management of audition applicants. We take your interest in our project seriously and work to ensure you are properly informed and supported to do your best at the audition.

  • Interested young people are required to attend the audition on Sunday 16 November 2025. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. Professional choreographers will lead you through the workshop in two parts. The first part involves a warmup and learning short movement sequences to remember and perform. The second part is creatively focused. We will give you some creative inspiration so you can imagine your own movement response and create a short dance in a small group. 

  • No – you will either dance with everyone else at the same time, or in groups. No one will be required to do anything on their own.   

  • The 2026 Major Project is only open to dancers who have participated in at least one QL2 program during 2025.  

    QL2 delivers an annual scaffolded program of activity designed to suit dancers across various stages of interest and commitment. All our projects have a unique balance of process (dancer experience) and outcome (performance). The Major Project is our most intensive opportunity. The focus of the Major Project leans towards the outcome, so dancers must demonstrate embodied understanding of the creative process prior to auditioning.  The Major Project is designed for dancers who are serious about dance and contributing to an original choreographic creation - they may also be considering a career in dance. 

    Our Chaos Project (September/October) is our entry-level performance project designed for a broad range of dancers united by their love of dancing, performing and being creative! Participation in The Chaos Project is also by audition, but we audition for potential, rather than existing skills. The focus of The Chaos Project leans towards process (the dancer’s experience) rather than the outcome… although the outcome is still awesome! 

    Additionally, we run classes during school terms. If you’re curious about what we do, come along and find out!