Scott Elstermann counts himself lucky to be able to combine his passion and career.
Since studying a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Scott has been a powerhouse in the industry, working as a successful dancer and choreographer.
“To be honest, I didn’t know you could study dance at university,” Scott laughs. “It wasn’t until my high school teacher mentioned it as a possibility that I started to wonder.”
“As cliché as it sounds, I thought ‘wow, okay - I can turn something that I love into my job.”
Scott’s enthusiasm for dance is clear, something that has stuck with him since childhood.
“I started dancing when I was five-years-old. My mum took me along to a class one day, and I never looked back,” he says. “There's something so magical about the feeling of moving to music.
“I think everyone can dance – it’s in all of us. We all dance when we're young and to be able to turn it into a career is beyond my wildest dreams.”
Growing up learning jazz, tap and ballroom dancing, Scott did a quick crash course in ballet and contemporary dance before auditioning and making the cut for WAAPA.
“I couldn’t believe it, to be honest. To be accepted into WAAPA straight from school was incredible.
“And thinking about it now, to have this world-class institution in my backyard - how lucky was I?”
Scott says his time at WAAPA was intense, likening it to a nine-to-five job with long contact hours, but it was certainly worth it; finishing top of the class when he graduated in 2014, receiving the Palisade Award for ‘Most Outstanding Graduate’ as well as a Certificate of Recognition for being in the Top 100 students at ECU.
“Going from school to full-time dancing was a big adjustment, and in my first year I felt I was playing a lot of catch up with other peers that had more classical training,” Scott says.
“But from it you form very close bonds with your classmates - some of them are still my best friends today - and it was so inspiring to see the collaboration and camaraderie between departments.”
“I think training at WAAPA definitely opens doors. Being able to say that you're a graduate piques people's interest. I think the industry is aware of the quality and the skill of the students, and I definitely would not be where I am today without the training I received at WAAPA.”
As an independent artist, dance has taken Scott around the globe, working across both performance and choreography in operas, musicals and orchestras.
“Since WAAPA I’ve really had an interest in both areas – having the chance to perform in different shows, but also making and creating them,” he says. “I've been fortunate, with a lot of hard work, to juggle both those hats.
“Each day, week, month is different, which I've come to really love. I get to work with a lot of different people, and I enjoy that flexibility.”
In 2018 Scott was the first Australian and youngest-ever international recipient to receive the Pina Bausch Fellowship for Dance and Choreography, given to four people annually.
“To receive this opportunity skyrocketed everything,” Scott says. “I got to travel to Europe for four months and receive mentorship whilst visiting some of the most renowned dance companies in the world.
“It opened my eyes to what is happening in the dance industry globally, and in particular, my field of contemporary dance.”
Another highlight of Scott’s career was in 2023, as one of two emerging choreographers selected to create a new production for the famed Venice Biennale.
“Going to Venice and working with eight incredible dancers from all over the world to create a piece called ‘Mosaic’ was another pinch me moment.
“It has been life-changing to meet contemporary dance luminaries such as Wayne McGregor, who really helped to shape modern dance.
“For them to see something in myself, this boy from Perth who didn't even know you could make dance a career is… I can't even think about it too long. It makes me a bit emotional.”
Following his Venice success, Scott continued to make waves at home with his ambitious independent works.
Like many of us, Scott found himself at the mercy of his algorithm during the lockdowns, which served him up content around foley – the making of sound effects for film and television. This, plus a love for Absolutely Fabulous, served as the inspiration for his award-winning independent contemporary dance work, Foleyvision.
The unique conceptual show was critically acclaimed, receiving ten nominations at the 2025 Performing Arts WA Awards and winning three: Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding New Work, and Outstanding Newcomer (Nadia Priolo).
The accolades did not end there. Scott returned to his WAAPA roots to collaborate on Dance Lecturer Brooke Leeder’s independent production Nocturnal, in which he starred. The work earned six Performing Arts WA Awards, and Scott’s performance saw him nominated for Outstanding Performer.
When reflecting on 2024 Scott describes it as “a year for me to flex both my performance muscle and choreographic brain.”
Scott’s commitment to the local dance industry saw him recently nominated for the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Youth Award.
“What a special phone call that was. I never really stopped to think about the impact I might be having on the community and the industry. To see the power that dance can have - especially with what we've gone through recently with the pandemic - and being able to create a space for people to have fun, be joyful and play is something I don’t take for granted.
“I've really tried to go against the competitive trend that dance can create. One of my mantras is ‘it doesn't cost anything to be kind’. By weaving that sentiment into my artistic practice has shown that anything is possible.
“To be recognised for my work and to see an independent artist be highlighted in that way was phenomenal. What a privilege.”
Scott’s dedication and commitment to his craft has been recognised once again, with him being named the 2025 ECU Young Alumni Award winner, an honour that celebrates his achievements as a performer, choreographer, and advocate for the arts.
“When I got that email, I was overcome,’ he says. ‘I’m so grateful for the acknowledgement and for ECU to recognise this boy who just loves to dance. Out of all the possible courses and graduates to select a winner from, I feel very lucky to be supported and nurtured by the University. It is very special.”
