Our Journey
TWA originated in 1985 when Ken Taylor, previous manager of Radio 2GB and Festival Records invited Tammy Worth a senior student of the Roberts Academy to take on the role of Principal. The following year, student numbers had doubled and the Tammy Worth Academy was born!
At the Tammy Worth Academy students study RAD Ballet, ADA Jazz & Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Singing and Drama. Students are selected for special Showgroups to compete in Eisteddfod and Showcase competitions.
Students have starred in TV series The Sleepover Club, Heartbreak High, Home & Away, Wildside, All Saints, and many TV commercials. Students have worked professionally in theatrical performances of Annie, The Sound of Music, Show Boat, Oliver, and Midsummer Night’s Dream with Opera Australia. Students have also performed with The Royal Ballet and The Australian Ballet and The Australian Youth Ballet.
Our Mission
Fantastic teachers who motivate the students and make learning fun as well as ensuring discipline prevails in order for the highest possible level of technique to be attained for each individual student – contributing to outstanding examination results, confident students and happy parents!
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend our Pre-School Dance & Movement Program called ‘Dance to Your Own Tune’ as it is specifically designed by the Royal Academy of Dance to cater for the development and nurturing of young students.
Yes, we encourage and welcome boys to participate in all our dance, singing and drama classes. The TWA teachers are aware that boys need to be trained in male specific areas in order to bring out their strength and confidence and to help reach full performance potential.
If your child is very young, we recommend Ballet, Jazz or Tap. Working in a team environment really helps to develop confidence by building friendships and establishing a good framework for learning dance. If your child is a tween or teenager, we strongly recommend Drama! Drama is invaluable for learning life-long skills that will carry students into whatever their chosen profession may be.
We are always on the lookout for students who can be fast-tracked. If a student is capable if extension work, they will be invited to participate in one of the TWA Showgroups. In these classes, choreography is learnt at a quicker pace as students learn extra routines for eisteddfods and performances. Students may also be invited to participate in more advanced classes if we feel they are capable of attaining a higher level than their age appropriate classes.
It is never too late to start dance training – Rudolf Nureyev commenced ballet at the age of 17 and became a world phenomenon! We suggest students learn foundations by joining basic level classes in conjunction with doing classes with their own peers. We find this approach works very well, as their motivation to be with their age group motivates them to work really hard to bridge the gap.
We do offer private singing coaching and encourage all students with “Star potential” to train one-to-one. With private lessons, students are able to receive expert tuition, perfectly catered to their individual needs and interests.
Our Teachers
Testimonials
Amy grew up training in the performing arts at the TWA. Amy performed professionally as a singer on Princess Cruises before moving to the USA to obtain a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Since graduating she has worked with top Chicago musical theatre directors and choreographers in productions of Hairspray, 42nd Street, Sunset Boulevard, Anything Goes and Merrily We Roll Along. Amy also spends time training and auditioning in NYC where she was featured in a video screened at the 2014 Tony Awards. TV:Betrayal (ABC America) Print work: Huntington Bank, Allstate Insurance and Weber Grill. She is also the voice of Princess Amelia in Uppercut Games’ iOs game: Epoch 2.
My experience at the Tammy Worth Academy has been extraordinary to say the least. I started classes at the age of four, and spent the following 14 years going to dance twice a week with Miss Tammy and her fellow teachers. During this time, I developed as a dancer and a person. I wasn’t the shy little girl who stood in the back corner of the classroom anymore, I became an enthusiastic and energetic student always pushing for the front row. TWA provided me with an abundance of personal and career development opportunities. Through the Worthwhile Kids agency, I have been to various movie and theatrical auditions as well as professional workshops with industry leaders. I have also made many lifelong friends, who I could always count on to cheer me up after a long week of school. I would highly recommend the Tammy Worth Academy of Dance and Arts for anybody who is looking to find a new hobby, genuine friends, or improve on their technical dancing skills. The teachers, parents and students of Tammy Worth Academy have become a second family for me, and they are always happy to welcome new members. Thank you Miss Tammy xxx
I started at Tammy Worth Academy when I was 6 years old, starting out in everything from Singing to jazz, tap, Modern and Ballet and even Drama and loved every minute of it and learning from all my teachers through the years My main love was singing and thanks to Tammy’s agency Worthwhile Kids and my amazing singing teacher Tina Bangel I was able to land a part in the Sydney season of The Sound of Music alongside Lisa McCune and Bert Newton in 1999/2000. Through Worthwhile Kids I also got to experience auditioning for Commercials and Musical Theatre etc. Since moving on I have gone onto to performing at many RSL/Sports clubs with The Saturday Night Diva’s and The Motown Show and have done some courses at NIDA and am currently filming some Showreels through NIDA too.
26 years ago my sister and I joined the Tammy Worth Academy keen to develop our skills and further our love for singing, dancing and drama. Tammy’s close attention taught us and her passion and belief in us lead us on a marvelous journey that would impact on our lives profoundly. 7 years of training lead us to sing professionally, to travel, and to realise our ambition to appear in film. So it was with a heart full of wonderful memories that last year I signed up my two daughters to Tammy Worth Academy which had grown dramatically from humble beginnings. Olivia (aged 8) and Monique (aged 6) love attending their classes in Ballet, Jazz and Acrobatics. The girls have both built close friendships with class mates, they adore their teachers, are keeping fit, developing physical skills and strength as well as social skills and resilience. The highlight of their year is the end of year concert, which the whole family looks forward to. We are looking forward to many more years with the Tammy Worth Academy.
During my time at the Tammy Worth Academy I took classes in all the performing arts for over 7 years. The studio was very professional while still having a very friendly and family feel. The Tammy Worth Academy always managed to find the perfect balance between fun, enjoyment, technique and discipline. The highlight is always the annual end of year concert which gives students the opportunity to showcase their work in a proper theatre environment, and always a lot of fun for the students too. I have performed professionally with the Australian Ballet following my training at the studio. Although I no longer work in the performing arts industry, the skills which I gained from my years at TWA have served me well in a number of different industries and the memories of the time I spent at the studio are among those that I treasure most.
My daughter has been dancing with Tammy Worth Academy for 6 years and what fun she has had. I have watched my daughter and all her friends develop into wonderfully talented, confident and happy dancers. The teachers bring fun, commitment and enthusiasm to each class. Our annual concert is a truly memorable experience, each year being unique and exciting. We are proud to be part of Tammy Worth Academy. I have not hesitation in recommending Tammy Worth Academy to any community member.
My 19 years at Tammy Worth Academy meant that I basically grew up at the studio. The community there, teachers and students alike, was fun and supportive and the friends I made there I still have now. As a student, I took classes in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and drama, I learnt to love performing and was given ample opportunity through exams, eisteddfods and concerts. As a teacher for the studio, I learnt that I loved working with kids and young people and I know my experience teaching with TWA helped guide me to my current career as a clinical psychologist working with children.
Since training and teaching at the Tammy Worth Academy, Melinda has continued to pursue a career in arts and arts education. She graduated from UNSW (2006) with a BA(Dance/English) / B.Ed, and continued her professional development with youMove Company from 2007 till 2012. She currently is delivering the CAPTIVATE VET Dance Program and HSC Dance Course, as well as serving as a board member for the dance company DirtyFeet. As an independent dance artist, Melinda’s performance credits include: ‘Thinking About Forever’ (Armstrong – Sydney Festival’s Festival Inside Out – 2011), ‘Loungers’ (Armstrong – Sydney Festival POP – 2012) ‘Briwyant’ (Van Hout – National Tour 2011/2012), ‘Table for One’ (tenofus ‐ youMove Company – 2012), Cultivate (Force Majeure – 2013), ‘Game of Seven’ (Chester and Champion 2013), ‘In Transit’ (Vassallo – DirtyFeet Out of the Studio – 2014) and ‘Winds of Woerr’ (Gela – Next Wave Festival 2014). Melinda’s emerging choreographic practice has been supported by a Parramatta City Council Artist Fellowship (2012/ 2013), and a Vacant Room Residency (PACT Theatre – 2013). With this support, she has begun the development of a dance theatre piece that plays on the relationship between performer, object and audience. The work titled Far‐Off, addressees the notion of alienation and miscommunications that arise from migration.
My eldest daughter began dancing with TWA in the year 2000 at the age of 4. Soon to be followed by her two younger sisters. The girls have enjoyed many years of RAD and FATD syllabus work along with many performances at end of year Concerts, South Australian Youth Ballet, The Australian Ballet School, Eisteddfods, Talent Quests and Showcase Nationals all with outstanding results as well as teaching opportunities. Dancing with the Tammy Worth Academy has given my daughters confidence, grace and the ability to fit into any situation. Teachers over the years have created a nurturing environment and have taken the time to get to know all my daughters individually. Miss Tammy Worth (Principal) has always seen to the needs of each child and ensures that all students and families are happy and involved within the school, by interacting with parents on a regular basis. Miss Tammy always has the student’s interests at heart. Thank you Miss Tammy for enabling my children to grow up and continue within the Tammy Worth Academy.
