Creative professionals are increasingly expected to work across disciplines and collaborate with a wide range of practitioners. Traditional training models often focus on developing expertise within a single discipline, limiting opportunities for students to experience the realities of professional creative collaboration before entering the workforce.
Hero image: Performers from the Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Conservatory of Music at the 2026 Partnering for Good event. Photo credit: University of Sydney/Michael Amendolia
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Sydney Dance Company have built a longstanding partnership that connects academic learning with professional artistic practice. Through a redesigned third-year unit, students in the Bachelor of Music (Composition for Creative Industries) collaborate directly with dancers from Sydney Dance Company's Pre-Professional Year program.
Working together from concept development through to performance, students co-create original music and choreography that culminates in a live public performance.
The partnership provides students with practical experience that mirrors the realities of professional creative practice. By collaborating directly with dancers, student composers learn to respond to creative feedback, adapt their work throughout the development process and deliver outcomes within professional production timelines. Students strengthen their technical, creative and interpersonal skills while building industry networks and gaining firsthand experience of collaborative artistic practice.
Explore more success stories to discover what's possible through partnership
Every successful partnership starts with a conversation. Whether you're exploring an idea or ready to launch a project, we can help connect you with the right expertise, facilities and people to achieve your goals.