It is hard to believe it’s that time of year again. The Telstra Ballet Dancer Award announcement is on Friday night and we all find out who the lucky winner is, as well as the winner of the Telstra People’s Choice. Who knows, there may be two winners again this year?

It’s nice to reflect on this time last year when I had no idea what was about to happen, but I was just enjoying the ride. I still actually can’t believe that my name (alongside Ty’s) was eventually read out as a co-winner of the TBDA for 2010. As all the photos suggest, I certainly was in a state of disbelief. I actually went deaf after the award was announced and I can’t really remember knowing what to do next, but I think someone gave me an encouraging shove forward for Ty and myself to make a curtain call. I do remember feeling so privileged to be standing there and trembling with excitement. I also remember feeling so blessed that my parents were in the audience and were able to share such a highlight in my career. Of course they were both crying with joy for me and I am so glad that I asked them to be a part of that night irrespective of the result. The TBDA process was such an enlightening and confidence-boosting one that I will always be grateful for. I hope Karen, Robyn, Rudy, Brett, Chengwu and Luke have enjoyed the process this year and learnt a lot about how they got here, what keeps them going and their exciting futures ahead. Voting has closed so there is nothing to do but wait and see for all of us. I will be on stage on Friday night with the nominees and I can’t wait to see the excitement on the faces of the winners. Of course, we all have to be reminded that to even be a dancer in The Australian Ballet, our national ballet company, is a massive achievement in itself. Everything else is just a cherry on top.

I hope everyone got in early for their Romeo & Juliet tickets because it is a sold out season. Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide fans don’t despair, Romeo & Juliet will journey its way to you next year. This time in 48 hours we will have a new Telstra Ballet Dancer Award winner (or two, or three, four, five or six) – but they are certainly all winners!

Dana

So I’ve been flat out celebrating the All Blacks victory in the Rugby World Cup final for the last two weeks (I’ll probably be wearing my AB’s jersey for class for the next four years), but now it’s back to business!  In a job that usually requires us to be clean shaven, it’s not often at The Australian Ballet that we get the chance to sport a bit of facial hair. However, by happy coincidence this years November Sydney season of The Merry Widow requires all the gentlemen to be fashionably moustached. We didn’t need much of an excuse to ditch the nasty spirit gum and fake mo’s for the real deal, so when we heard it was for a good cause as well, we leapt  at the opportunity!  That means this month at the Sydney Opera House it’s Movember at the Ballet, as the guys support The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.  If you’d like to help us out that would be fantastic, head to mobro.co/tykingwall to donate to me, or mobro.co/theaustralianballet to donate to any of the guys individually, or the whole team!  When I get to $100 I’ll put up a photo on the page so you can see the progress, or if you’re coming to watch The Merry Widow you’ll be able to see the results on stage!  It’ll also be my first season back from injury, so I’m looking forward to it.  May the mo be with you,

Ty

Hi there,

Well it’s been 24 hours since the Wallabies went down to the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup semi final, and I think I may have finally recovered from the disappointment. Of course, there were commiserations given from all the Kiwis at work today, but I could see they were enjoying their triumph. They sure earned their final berth and I will definitely be tuning in next week to see them hit off against France.

What else has been going on? Well after a whirlwind season of Romeo & Juliet which was a big success here in Melbourne, we happened to have a few days off that were well used in recovery by all the dancers. It had been a busy and exhausting rehearsal period so it was great to wind down, and in my case, head to The Grampians for some nature-time. It was exactly what I needed – the fresh air, the stunning views and of course, I love clambering up and down rocks on a beautiful sunny day. It was just perfect and I can’t wait to get back to Hollow Mountain.

Back at The Australian Ballet, it was time to get a head start on our 2012 repertoire because being the 50th Anniversary of the Company it will definitely be a momentous year. So, we are in the studio with the lovely Stephen Baynes creating/reworking a traditional Swan Lake. After doing Graeme Murphy’s version of Swan Lake for eight years it’s definitely going to take some time to link that music with different steps. I am really enjoying it though, and after some Act 1 Waltzing we are now on to Act 4 Swans, the Black Swan act. Not like the movie though! There is definitely something incredibly beautiful about having 24 girls in a flock of swans, flying madly across the stage. And the Tchaikovsky score? Well that’s always an absolute pleasure to listen to!

In between working on my swan arms, I have been making the most of my two-day weekends and taking trips away. I have been home to Brisbane to see all my beautiful family and friends who I feel so blessed to have in my life. It was such a great trip, and with three nieces, and three close friends getting engaged, there was much to celebrate. We even made a trip up to the Sunshine Coast which always makes me very relaxed and happy! A couple of hours later I was back in Melbourne, feeling astounded by how much one can achieve in a weekend.

Closer to home, I just spent the weekend in a beautiful country house in Lorne, reading and keeping cosy by the fire or enjoying a G & T in great company. I feel so lucky to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle, as these weekends are so rare for us. Saturday’s are our biggest day in the theatre usually, so it’s always a novelty to wake up on a Saturday morning and not be rushing off to the theatre for two shows.

Of course it’s not long until my theatre schedule resumes. We are off to Sydney in a few weeks to finish off the year with hopefully sold out seasons of The Merry Widow and Romeo & Juliet. No weekends off there!

But firstly, we have our free Telstra Ballet in the Gardens show in my hometown of Brisbane. I’m so excited to be performing back home at the Riverstage – just like when I was the ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’ when we performed at the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols aged 4. I am dancing an exciting pas de deux called Le Corsaire, with no other than the amazing Daniel Gaudiello (another Brisbanite). I can’t wait to get out there in my pink dress and have some fun with my favourite audience. I will have lots of friends and family watching and of course my favourite three little nieces. It’s such a great event for the dancers of the Company and the people of Brisbane to see such a great show and for free too! If you have never seen ballet before, this show is definitely a great one to start with – it promises to be fun and exciting and we can’t wait to see you all!

Until then,

Dana

Hey all,

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be a part of The Australian Ballet’s official launch of the 2012 season, which is also the company’s 50^th anniversary.  It was an exciting event to be involved in, the launch taking place at Block Projects art gallery in Richmond, Victoria.  For the occasion, the walls were covered in pictures of dancers and performances by the company from the last 50 years, and it was very cool to relive both familiar and unfamiliar moments in the history of The Australian Ballet.  It was also a chance to turn our attention to the repertoire we have lined up to perform in 2012.  As you can imagine it’s going to be a MASSIVE year, very busy and challenging, but ultimately for the dancers we have an immensely enjoyable program of works to perform.  I’m particularly looking forward to Onegin and the traditional Swan Lake, Etudes for the International Gala in Melbourne in November, and the tour to New York. It’s very motivating to have such a great year ahead after missing so much of 2011, I desparately want to be a part of the action coming up!

Everything on the injury front is on track, I’ve been back in class for the past six weeks and am slowly increasing my workload.  I’ve now progressed to allegro (jumps) and have also added some partnering to my program, so am finally starting to feel like a dancer again. At this stage I’d like to thank our physio Sue and pilates instructor Paula, who have been working with me through this rehab from the outset. Without their advice the road back certainly would have been much tougher.

The one upside of all this time off is that it’s meant I’ve been able to catch every All Blacks game during the Rugby World Cup!  They are going great guns, and there are a few kiwis in the company so we’re all pretty excited about how the All Blacks are travelling.  Not too excited though, I’m still having nightmares from 2007.  So if you don’t hear from me for while, it’s because I’m mourning yet another quarterfinals exit. Fingers crossed that’s not the case,

Ty.

I’m sitting in the studio with swords clashing, fruit mid-air, baguettes flying and dead bodies lying all over the floor. Where am I? Of course, this could only be a Romeo & Juliet rehearsal in our Melbourne studios. I have watched this scene develop in tone and intensity over the past seven weeks since our very first day in the creative process. It already feels like so long ago, especially now we’re less than two weeks out from opening night, and we have a fully-fleshed work to hone and bring life to. It’s certainly exciting times at The Australian Ballet Centre. While creating this new dramatic and contemporary interpretation of ‘the greatest love story of all time’ we are performing a repeat season of British Liaisons at The Arts Centre. It’s always great to revisit works later in the year, and I definitely feel more confident and even more inspired to improve my performances, particularly in Concerto. I had my first performance of the 3rd movement’s Principal Girl on Saturday and it was incredibly fun and rewarding. I was fortunate to have special family and friends in the audience too. It’s not often you get to fly solo across the massive State Theatre stage and I definitely made the most of the opportunity. It’s such a joyous solo with buoyant music and I couldn’t have been happier with the show. One of those very memorable performances. As always, it was great to spend time with my mum and sister, making the most of Melbourne’s beautiful spring-like weather on our only day off.

The next few weeks will definitely be eventful and exciting, as the World Premiere of any new full-length Graeme Murphy should be! I do know that this production is full of heart and soul, brilliant acting, achingly beautiful dancing, incredible leading dancers, awe-inspiring sets, luscious ‘I can’t believe I’m wearing them’ Akira costumes and without a doubt, a lot of tears both on stage and in the audience.

Okay, I better get back to the ball – Romeo has just sighted Juliet for the first time…and so it begins…

Dana.

Hey everyone, me again.  It’s been a while, but I’m still around!

Some positive signs with the back injury of late, things are moving forward which they weren’t doing for quite a while there.  Looks like I’ll be joining in Company class again very soon, and all going to plan will hopefully be back on stage before the end of the year. So it’s good news at the moment, fingers crossed!

The Company is up and about once more, fresh from their mid-year break. After three months off, I didn’t really feel that a holiday was what I needed, so I stayed in Melbourne that week to continue my fitness programme and pilates.  I’ve got to say though, a trip up north to somewhere with a warmer climate was pretty tempting.

Rehearsals are now in full swing for Graeme Murphy’s new Romeo & Juliet. I haven’t had much of a chance to see what’s been happening in the studio myself, but I’ve heard the clash of swords from the corridor as I’ve walked past a few times, and it’s made me fairly keen to get back in there!  I’ve also checked out a few of Akira Isogawa’s costumes and they are AWESOME.  So go get your tickets ASAP.  Which side are you on, Montague or Capulet?  I’m a Montague man myself…

Something else you might be interested in checking out is the Opening Act competition, being run by Telstra and The Australian Ballet again this year.  Basically, dance groups of any genre can submit a video of their own choreographed routine, and the winner will get the opportunity to perform it at the Company’s free outdoor performance, Telstra Ballet in the Gardens, up in Brisbane later this year.  I was dancing at the Penrith outdoor performance last year and got to see last year’s winners, who were a big hit, so lots to live up to.  Details are on Telstra’s Facebook site, www.facebook.com/telstra, and www.beinvolved.com.au as well.  The video explaining how it all works also features moi hamming it up for the cameras.  No Oscar nominations for that performance, that’s for sure!

Signing off,

Ty.

I’ve just landed back in freezing Melbourne at the end of an all too brief mid-year break! Only a week ago, I was on stage as the phenomenal Kirsty Martin took her last curtain call with The Australian Ballet. It was undoubtedly a moment I will never forget.
Like many people, I have admired Kirsty for her beautiful dancing and artistic achievements on the stage (not to mention those incredible feet!). Kirsty was my mentor while in my final year at The Australian Ballet School – except I was too petrified to talk to her! Fortunately for me, on joining the Company, I realised she was actually very funny, approachable and always inspiring.

Like many of our principals, I have such admiration for how they balance their stage lives with their young children at home. I honestly don’t know how they manage it all and often remind myself when I’m feeling tired, of how much more sleep I get in comparison!
The standing ovation at Kirsty’s last show was testament to how loved she is by the Australian public and I feel very lucky to have been sharing the stage that night, plus many shows before.

It was also a wonderful send off to the first half of the year, and not long after the curtain came down on The Merry Widow I was on a plane to sunny Queensland. I cherish the time I spend home in Brisbane and it sure was a packed week full of lots of family, friends, coffees, catch ups, nieces and birthday parties (including an early one in my honour!). And did I mention the sunshine? I was blessed with seven perfect sunny Queensland days, not a cloud in the crystal blue skies.

My trip home was perfectly timed to meet our latest addition to the family, my niece Pippa. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to share in these really important family times. I especially love seeing my other two nieces fussing over the new baby and trying to help out. I love being Aunty Dana to three very cheeky little girls!

It was also a great week to cheer for Queensland on the sporting field. Just like times gone by, I sat with Mum and Dad and cheered as the Maroons brought home the State of Origin trophy yet again. It was great to see such a humble and inspirational captain in Darren Lockyer, being sent off in the best fashion. Of course, it was only a few days before the attention was back on Suncorp Stadium with the QLD Reds facing the Crusaders in the Super 15 Rugby final. Like other Reds fans who have been following their recent scintillating form (and several years of less scintillating form!) we couldn’t wait for the match on Saturday night. I got together with my school friends to watch the game over a delicious feast and by the 80th minute there were eight girls screaming at the TV! As QLD were awarded the final penalty that stopped play, the crowd at Suncorp went wild as did we! It is wonderful to see the result of over a decade of quiet commitment and rebuilding; all the hard work that happens away from the public eye. I was absolutely thrilled for them. Between the Roar, Firebirds, Maroons and Reds, QLD really is a passionately sporty state.

The next day I had an early birthday celebration with my family at The Spirit House at Yandina. We enjoyed a yummy Thai banquet, including my perennial favourite, a duck curry. It was a very leisurely lunch with good food, wine, sunshine and of course great company. I was super excited to receive an awesome pair of hiking boots from my sister for the South American adventure we are taking later in the year. Hopefully I can put them to good use on Australian soil before then though!

The longer I am in this profession, the more I appreciate having time off – it seems to be so rare. When I was younger, I felt somewhat guilty for enjoying relaxation but now I know how important it is to embrace recovery time for both body and mind.

I’ll be back in the studio tomorrow (and hopefully not too stiff!) because it’s time to start rehearsals for the much anticipated new production, Graeme Murphy’s Romeo & Juliet. I know audiences are as excited as we are to see the results of this process. I have heard snippets and rumours of production details but all will be revealed tomorrow when we get the Romeo & Juliet briefing demonstration. I have high hopes for another stand-out work of passion, beauty, drama and of course exquisite dancing – it’s what Murphy does best. I will be reporting back along the way so hopefully next time I will have some more insight in to how it’s coming along.

I better get some sleep for first day back at work tomorrow. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s holiday stories too, it’s like first day back at school!

Dana

All of a sudden it seems, I find myself a week out from our mid-year break. Where has this year gone? Here is some indication…

We have taken Madame Butterfly to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. I found myself in a chessboard battle as a Red Pawn in Checkmate (unfortunately on the losing side). I enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to perform a principal role in the third movement of Concerto, including a last-minute call from David McAllister telling me I was on in two hours’ time! A two week rehearsal process for a new Bodytorque piece, with independent artist Lisa Wilson, and its ensuing fast and furious season. And of course our first-ever live streaming of the Bodytorque season on the Telstra Bigpond Network. Very exciting times!

It was incredible to see the control desk for the live streaming, with its panel of very talented directors calling the shots in real time. I had a sneak peek before I went on stage in Contour and as I am sure everyone who watched it can agree, the results were quite astounding. We have had such great feedback about bringing one of our most in-demand seasons to homes nationally and internationally. When I stepped off stage, I received a text message from my Dad who had been watching the Telstra live stream in Brisbane. My family don’t often get to see me dance and it was really special to know they could so easily see our show. And that closed the whirlwind that is a Sydney season!

There had been such diverse changes in repertoire during the previous months that my body was struggling to keep up. This is certainly when most injuries occur, because in my case I was rolling around on the floor during the day (Bodytorque) and then putting the pointe shoes on at night (Concerto). I enjoy the challenge of diversity, and while it’s one of my strengths, unfortunately the body can take a little while to catch up. Not surprisingly, I finished the Sydney season with some irritable discs in my back, but thanks to our wonderful physio team and some strapping tape, I was able to enjoy all the shows.

We had a week in Melbourne to prepare for our Elegy season, which consisted of two particularly beautiful Stephen Baynes’ works. After much thought and consultation with our medical team I decided to pull out of the season to ensure I could get on top of my physical injury and mental fatigue. I spent hours with our Pilates/Conditioning Coach Paula Baird- Colt who knows my body almost as well as I do. It was important to let all the tension go out of the over-strained muscles, while gently strengthening and rejuvenating the supportive structures.

Taking some time away from the high pressure environment of the stage also allowed me to unwind mentally. It was a time of ‘less is more’. The results of this decision have led to me feeling fit, rejuvenated and very enthusiastic about dancing – my body is certainly thanking me for it. It’s very hard to pull out of something, especially a ballet you love. As a dancer in The Australian Ballet there is very little off-season. In a positive way, this means we are on stage, doing what we love almost every day of the year. Unfortunately, it also means you have to manage the risk of burning out and being no good to the Company or yourself. This time off stage has enabled me to be back in even better condition, in a relatively short period of time, plus I have gained confidence from listening to my body and what it needed most.

I’m back on stage in The Merry Widow and loving every second. It’s such a wonderful ballet – so frothy, light and frivolous and by the time my colleagues and I bounce on to stage in the Can Can in Act 3, the crowd is certainly bouncing along too! We even had a standing ovation on Thursday night’s Opening in Melbourne – such a rarity in Australia. It was such a special night and is definitely one of those special shows I will never forget.

Dana.

Well as much as I wish I could be talking about touring, rehearsals and performances, that’s not the reality for me right now! I’m deeply entrenched in the recovery for my back, and although it’s progressing, it’s doing so very slowly. Rest assured though, I haven’t been spending all this time on the couch with my feet up watching TV! I think every time you’re out of action and have to go through injury rehabilitation, you want it to be a productive experience. This has been no exception for me; I’ve had the time to reflect on my dancing, to think about what I need to change and improve. The driving force behind my rehab, what gets me through the monotony of the pool and the gym, is the prospect of eventually being able to get back into the studio and set those things into motion.
The company dancers are all back in one place now, having spent the last few weeks split between Sydney, Launceston and Melbourne. It was cool to watch Bodytorque via Telstra’s live streaming of the final performance, some fantastic choreographic talent there for sure! If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out at http://bigpondvideo.com/ballet. In the ‘On Demand’ section, click Entertainment, then Ballet, and enjoy!
Also, to any ballet or dance schools out there affected by the Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian floods: the 2011 Telstra Assistance Fund is offering free equipment to help you guys get back on your feet again. Head to www.ideasforgood.com.au/taf for more information – it’s great they’re offering the support so hopefully those hit hard can take advantage of it.

That’s it from me for now, until next time,
Ty.

An unfortunate turn of events for me, the past few weeks. During my first show of Madame Butterfly in Sydney I injured my back, and although I pushed through that performance and tried to finish off the season, things got progressively worse until the point where I’m now going to have to take some time off. It’s disappointing and frustrating, because I’d been looking forward to the upcoming British Liaison season. It also means someone else is going to have to pick up the slack and fill in for me, and you never want to create extra work for others. But as this is a recurrence of an injury I’ve had before, I definitely want to take the opportunity now to rehab it properly. I don’t want it to be an ongoing problem down the track.

At the moment it’s just a case of keeping the back as mobile as possible, with swimming, pilates and physio treatment every day. I want to maintain my fitness levels as much as I can, so that when I’ve recovered enough to return to class, I’m ready to go. It’s a bit of a waiting game at the moment, but hopefully I’ll be up and running again before too long. Until then, you’ll most likely catch me at the pool, drilling the laps!

Ty.