Brian Nolan

Brian commenced training in Melbourne with Patricia Little studying Cecchetti and then with Paul Hammond and RAD. He was accepted into the Australian Ballet School (ABS) at 15 years of age and was awarded a Scholarship in his 1st year and an Australian Arts Council Grant in his 2nd year.

He had the distinct privilege to be selected by Asaf Messerer of the Bolshoi Ballet to performed with Maya Plisetskaya in the Bolshoi Ballet production of Bolero. Upon his graduation from the Australian Ballet School Brian was accepted into the Australian Ballet Company and also danced with the Australian Opera prior to starting with the Company.

In 1977 he toured Australia and performed with Dame Margot Fonteyn in the Merry Widow and has also toured with the Company to Jakarta, Bali, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Japan, China, USA, Mexico.

In 1979 Brian was awarded the Australian Ballet Company International Travel / Tutor Scholarship. In 1982 Brian joined Channel 9 and the Toni Bartuccio Dancers performing on the Don Lane Show, Darryl Sommers Show, Bert Newton, Mike Walsh and many more. He also joined the ABC Channel 2 Ballet performing in the John Farnham and Debra Byrne Show as well as the Tonight show and a performance on Countdown supporting “Divine”.

Brian has appeared in several Musicals including Mame, West Side Story, and Oklahoma. Brian has Choreographed for several Variety Shows including Full Frontal, Fast Forward and Bert Newton. He has also Choreographed 42 Street for the Melbourne Palladium staring Rhonda Birchmore & Glenda Walsh. He has also Choreographed the Rhonda Birchmore Spectacular at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. As well Brian has Choreographed for HSV 7 and the Good Friday Appeal. From 1992 - 2001 Brian was appointed as the Artistic Director for the very successful Dance World 301 studio in Melbourne.

In 1999 Brian Choreographed for the “Stars of Tomorrow” ensemble with the Regional Dance Companies of America at the Tanzsommer Festival performed throughout Austria and Germany. In 2001 he Choreographed for the 11th International Ballet Competition Gala Performance in Brazil.

In 2003 and 2006 Brian choreographed for Brazil 2000 Ballet Company at the 12th and 15th International Ballet Competition in Brasilia Brazil. He has also choreographed several Contemporary Variations for International Ballet Competitions including the Award-winning piece “The Predator”.

From 2003 – 2006 Brian became the Director of the Australian International School of Coaching.

From 2006 – 2009 Brian Directed the Australian Vaganova Academy. In 2013 Brian was presented with the Phoenix Arts Award for his Contribution to the Arts.

In 2019 student Milei Lee won the Australian Royal Academy of Dance Bursary In 2021 Milei Lee won the Silver Medal at the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition.

In 2022 Classical Coaching Student Leon Bowman won a Gold and Silver Medal at the Asian Pacific Ballet Competition.

In 2023 Brian has had a total of 44 students accepted into the Australian Ballet School. Brian has trained seven former students who have been accepted into the Australian Ballet Company including: Current Principal Adam Bull and Senior Artist Valerie Tereschenko. Brian also freelances all over the World where he is on many National and International Panels & Boards including Vice Chair and Chairperson Royal Academy of Dance Victorian and Tasmanian Advisory Panel.

Brian joined Flashdance Performing Arts in 2016 and is the Classical Ballet Master for the School In 2022 Brian along with Artistic Director Lainie Farello of Flashdance Performing Arts inaugurated the Classical Coaching College – an Elite Classical Program with extended hours to assist in enabling the students to further their training for selection into classical ballet Institutions of higher learning.