Kim David McCarthy

Kim David McCarthy serves as Lecturer and Classical Ballet Coordinator at Edith Cowan University's Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), a position he has held since 2008. He teaches advanced ballet technique, pas de deux, and repertoire across WAAPA's third-year undergraduate and Advanced Diploma programs including Elite Ballet courses and specialized coaching.

His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from Edith Cowan University (2007) and a Certificat IV Trainer and Assessor from TAFE WA (2012). These qualifications underpin his pedagogical approach that bridges professional performance experience with academic instruction.

McCarthy's creative research centers on classical ballet choreography and staging, with significant contributions to contemporary dance practice through original works and reconstructions. His expertise spans technical ballet instruction, pas de deux coaching, and the transmission of repertoire by choreographers like Nacho Duato, reflecting deep engagement with both classical traditions and modern innovations in dance.

Analysis of his 11 choreographic works (2007-2013) reveals consistent focus on classical ballet foundations adapted for contemporary contexts, with recurring emphasis on narrative expression through pas de deux and ensemble formations. His pieces frequently reinterpret classical scores like Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker while exploring emotional depth through movement vocabulary derived from his performance background.

He received the Vice Chancellors Staff Award for Engagement in Learning and Teaching in 2013, recognizing his innovative teaching methodologies that integrate professional industry standards into academic training.

As a former principal dancer with Hamburg Ballet and Compañia Nacional de Danza, McCarthy mentors elite students through direct transmission of performance practices. Though no formal research grants are documented, his international staging work for companies including Royal Ballet Covent Garden and New National Theatre Tokyo constitutes significant professional engagement.

McCarthy leads WAAPA's classical ballet stream while maintaining active industry connections as a trusted stager of Nacho Duato's repertoire, regularly conducting masterclasses for major international companies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.