The producers of acclaimed global hit Dance Academy have started production in Sydney on Ready For This, their next live-action teen drama series for ABC3 Australia.

Produced by Joanna Werner (Dance Academy) and Miranda Dear (Redfern Now, Mabo), Ready For This follows the adventures of five equally talented, but different Indigenous kids who travel to Sydney to realize their dreams.

The ensemble cast features Aaron McGrath (The Code, Redfern Now, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Leonie Whyman(Redfern Now), Madeleine Madden (The Code, Jack Irish: Dead Point, Redfern Now), Liam Talty (Home) and Majeda Beatty (X Factor Season Six).

Werner Film Productions (Dance Academy) and Blackfella Films formed joint-venture Big Chance Films, which will produce the series for ABC in association with Screen Australia and Screen NSW.

Set to debut later this year, Ready For This will launch with a one-hour premiere, followed by 12 half-hour episodes.

The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) is handling international sales of the series and Joanna Werner, Darren Dale, ABC’s commissioning editor Simon Hopkinson and ACTF’s Bernadette O’Mahony are executive producing.