Dance Academy Returns with Feature Film

Series of any medium centering the performing arts are very common. From recent series like Backstage, and older beloved series such as Victorious and Hannah Montana. Each series carrying their own tone, themes and heart.

Back at the end of March I published an article on Backstage, and much to my delight it has proven to be a great series. Yet one of the key things about that article was my mention of Dance Academy. Given that the main subject was about Backstage – and Dance Academy had finished its run- there was no real point for me to really talk about the series.

Until now.

Yet again I find myself saying this- I had no idea that this kind of news was only weeks away. No crystal ball or anything. Dumb luck – yes. Dance Academy is officially going to be returning, this time however with a feature film.

Warning spoilers to come.

Here is the official information from WorldScreen:

ZDF and ZDF Enterprises are teaming up with Australia’s Werner Film Productions to co-produce a feature film based on the live-action teen series Dance Academy.

Shooting on Dance Academy: The Comeback will begin this spring and is scheduled to wrap in December. The 90-minute feature film will be shot in Sydney and New York. The Australian drama series on which the movie is based has aired in 160-plus countries, including in Germany on ZDF, in the U.S. on TeenNick and Netflix, and in the U.K. on Nickelodeon.

The film tells the story of top ballet student Tara Webster after she has recovered from a broken back and now finds it difficult to perform in front of an audience. Her dreams are on the line as she must decide whether to give dancing one last shot or simply walk away. The film will have a theatrical run in more than 50 theaters in Australia and a full-fledged marketing campaign encompassing premiere events and more.

Nicole Keeb, the head of international co-productions and acquisitions for children and youth at ZDF, said, “It will be very exciting to accompany our beloved heroes again. This time we will follow their search for their way into real life after academy. A crucial point for many teens after school or college and therefore definitely very interesting for our audiences at ZDF and KiKA. After the last season, many fans asked how Tara and Co. were doing and what was happening to them. In this movie they will find the answers!”

Arne Lohmann, the VP of ZDFE.junior, commented, “ZDF Enterprises was amazed by the huge global success of Dance Academy, the series. With this feature film, we are taking the excitement to the next level and will introduce our popular characters to a new generation of audiences.”

Joanna Werner, producer and founder of Werner Film Productions, added, “I am so delighted to again be working with ZDF and ZDF Enterprises to bring Dance Academy to the big screen. Since we finished filming the television series in 2013 we have been inundated with letters from fans around the world asking us ‘what comes next?’ for our characters. This film is our chance to answer that question and more.”

To be very honest I was very okay with the ending of the third season. I know and realize that much like life things cannot always be tied up with a neat little bow on top and a wide smile and pure glee over-coming you. Not every story has a traditional happy ending. Life happens and sometimes, even if we have no idea, what happens is what we need and even desire. The ending reflected that.

But by no means am I going to turn my back on this- fat chance. I do very genuinely love the characters in the series and want to see what might come next for them. But I am giggling over the fact they are also partly setting the story in New York, reminds me of Love Live to some extent. Yes, I am well aware of just how Love Live obsessed I have become.

I am excited for this and hoping that somehow this received a proper release across the globe. This is a story and characters that need to be recognized.

It really is great to see them once more.

Dance Academy is up on Netflix and Hulu for streaming!

Join the conversation: Fans of Dance Academy are you pumped for this?