Australian Academy of Performing Arts alum Scott Elstermann is returning to his old stomping ground to be part of WAAPA Dance's inaugural performance season at the new Edith Cowan University (ECU) City Campus.
As a proud West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) alum, Scott Elstermann is thrilled to be playing a part in Rise 2026, WAAPA Dance's inaugural performance season at the new Edith Cowan University (ECU) City Campus.
It has been a full circle moment for Scott, who not only relished mentoring the third-year dance students for the showcase, but coincided with his return to study at ECU.
He has accepted a post graduate placement in Project Management after receiving a Business and Law Excellence Scholarship from ECU post 2025 Young Alumni Award win.
Scott, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2014, said stepping back into ECU and the role of a choreographer has been wonderful, with his own fond memories of student life at WAAPA close to heart.
I feel very grateful that I have this opportunity to share what I have learnt with these younger dancers who will enter the industry next year.
For Rise, Scott has been inspired by WAAPA's move from Mount Lawley to the City Campus, centring his work on taking "something historical and transferring into a modern environment."
"As a graduate of the dance program myself, I've had feelings of Deja Vu and nostalgia mixed with shiny and new sensations at the glorious City Campus. It's beautiful," he said.
His Rise piece - titled Split Screen - is a loose reimagining of ‘The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' which explore concepts of duality and opposition, Scott explains.
"Taking this historical text and reimagining it for today's audiences with this current cohort of dancers has been amazing," he said.
Coveted European scholarship opportunity
Hot on the heels of his involvement in Rise - which has been a sellout - Scott is heading to Europe to join the renowned and competitive dance program, ATLAS at Impulstanz (Vienna International Dance Festival).
The program selects 25 mid-career choreographers from around the world to take part in a five-week festival receiving mentorship and professional development.
With a strong interest in fusing forms, Scott discussed his current curiosity in comic strips and cartoons.
"Recently, I've been drawn back to comic books such as The Adventures of Tintin which I loved growing up. In our current doom and gloom global landscape, I think we are all hankering for something whimsical, something a bit light-hearted. This is the world I'm keen to explore in Vienna."
Scott's scholarship to Vienna is his third international opportunity, having previously been involved in Pina Bausch Fellowship for Dance and Choreography in Wuppertal, Germany and the Venice Biennale College Danza Choreographer's Program.
"To be the first ever dance artist to be selected for all three programs is an achievement I am very proud of," Scott said.
The best training ground for a dream career
More than a decade on since he graduated from WAAPA, Scott said his course gave him the technical foundation and the confidence to pursue his dreams.
"When I graduated, I felt that I had the support of the university, the staff and my fellow peers to try and make a sustainable artistic career," he said.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It has been incredibly difficult, a lot of hard work and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it's worth it, to make my passion my career.
"I still have to pinch myself."
