Mitchell Rayner

PDPTC Graduate

Ballet with Mitch, Sydney, NSW

What drew you into a career as a dance teacher? Tell us a little about your journey.

When I first started ballet at 13 I had some wonderful teachers that really believed in me. They instilled confidence in me and pushed me out of my comfort zone as a nervous teenager. They made a huge contribution to my technical and artistic development as a young dancer. When I was dancing professionally and thinking about what I may want to do next I knew that I wanted to give back and have an impact on the next generation of dancers. Using my knowledge and skills I wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives the same way my teachers did.

Why did you choose the RAD?

I studied the RAD syllabi as a young dancer and really resonated with the formulaic approach to technical and artistic values. I appreciate it’s evolution over the years to become an inclusive space for all types of dancers to enjoy ballet and to share their passion through a progressive approach that balances technique with performance and artistry.

Tell us about a teaching career highlight to date.

I actually have two highlights that really stand out. The first was having the opportunity to teach at the RAD Centenary Summer School in Wellington. Being involved in such a diverse program of classes, discussions and choreography made me really push myself as a teacher. This experience was extremely rewarding. The second highlight was being asked to teach the adult ballet program for The Australian Ballet at the Sydney Opera House. Teaching in the same studio that I had spent so much of my ballet career was surreal!

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