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At Sydney's National Dance Academy, a few talented youngsters are recruited for the excruciatingly tough course. It follows Tara Webster, a sheepfarmgirl who's ambition is to be the next best ballerina. Jewish long line of doctors' heir Samuel 'Sammy' and minor juvenile offender Christian are the outsiders but gradually fit in, making new kinds of friends. Star ballerina's daughter Kat also introduces them in the circle of last-year brother Ethan, who already aspires a career as choreographer. Also Abigail, a smart young girl who'll walk over dead bodies to reach the stars tries to sabotage everything and everyone.
It's three weeks into Third Year and Tara and her friends are already feeling the pressure. Speculation bubbles when the National Ballet Company announces it needs three temporary fill-in roles in the corps de ballet.
On their first day as fill-in dancers, Tara, Grace and Ben encounter cliques in the corps de ballet. Meanwhile, Christian has no interest in going back to the Academy.
Kat struggles to stay positive and her determination to advance into Third Year is morphing into dangerous patterns. Meanwhile, Grace plays match-maker, and Christian's lost his place at the Academy.
Ben is flattered when Saskia offers to be his mentor and it becomes clear there's potential for them to dance together brilliantly; and Abigail and Christian disturb everyone with their unlikely friendship.
Saskia arranges a special audition with the Company's artistic director for her protégé, Ben; Grace's world implodes; and Zach allows Christian to participate in a music video Ollie is producing.
The Academy goes a little Hollywood when a film crew uses their building as a location for a new indie movie; and Grace tries to undermine a new relationship to guarantee her position on the tour.
The Third Years are having the time of their lives on the road, but are prioritising fun over performance. Back at the Academy, Kat clashes with the movie's third assistant director, Jamie.
On the final leg of their tour, the Third Years are invited to a traditional Indigenous ceremony and return the hospitality by offering a dance class to the local kids. Christian finds he is an unexpectedly good teacher.
A career-making performance opportunity brings out the best and worst in everyone, and an injury that sidelines Ollie prompts him to use someone to get ahead.
Christian and Ollie prepare for Streetbeatz, a major hip hop competition; Kat prepares to audition for a minor role in Coppelia; and Ben takes a stab at revenge.
The countdown to the final Company auditions has begun when suddenly it becomes a whole new playing field; and Christian and Tara come to a final resolution about their relationship.
Auditions for the National Ballet Company have arrived bringing superstitions, old competitive battle lines and the performances that will determine the rest of their lives.
It's judgment day. The Third Years sit before the Company panel and learn their fate - who will be offered a professional contract with the National Ballet Company and who will have to find a new dream?
