The Australian Ballet has announced the addition of 11 new dancers ahead of the 2024 season, all offered positions with the Company by The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg.
Soloists: Three incoming soloists will join in January 2024 – Davi Ramos, Mia Heathcote and Victor Estévez.
Hailing from Brazil, Davi Ramos trained at The Royal Ballet School in London and was a semi-finalist in the Prix de Lausanne in 2016. Ramos joined Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam in 2019, where he holds the rank of grand sujet.
Currently a principal artist with the Queensland Ballet since 2022, Melbourne-born Mia Heathcote has danced captivating lead roles including the title role in Manon. She graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 2013 and joined the Queensland Ballet in early 2014. Heathcote performed with The Australian Ballet while still a student in a special 50th anniversary work Sweedeedee.
Cuban dancer Victor Estévez danced with the National Ballet of Cuba before joining the Queensland Ballet as a principal artist in 2016. Estévez has danced leading roles across the classical and contemporary repertoire, including Romeo in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, and Prince Siegfried in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake.
Corps de ballet: The Australian Ballet’s corps de ballet will be strengthened by eight new members.
Signaling the arrival of the next generation, six new recruits: Yaru Xu (China and WA), Isabella Smith (WA), Macy Trethewey (ACT), Charlton Tough (VIC), Corey Gavan (NSW) and Jeremy Hargreaves (NSW) join from The Australian Ballet School.
Xu, Smith and Trethewey most recently toured with the Company in this year’s production of Swan Lake, while Tough, Gavan and Hargreaves will make their debut in David McAllister’s Storytime Ballet: Cinderella, which opens at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from 13 – 17 December.
Laura Griffiths (VIC) has returned home from London as one of The Australian Ballet’s newest arrivals. Griffiths joined the Company in August, following three years training at the English National Ballet School. New Zealand-born Alice McArthur will join the Company in January 2024. McArthur is a 2023 graduate of the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart.
“It is always a thrill welcoming new dancers to the Company, whether that’s young artists at the start of their career, or established performers adding their experience to our company,” said David Hallberg.
“To be welcoming such a large cohort, especially with so many from The Australian Ballet School, is a testament to the depth of talent in this country. I look forward to next year as they join us for the season’s exciting repertoire.”
All 11 dancers will join the company ahead of the 2024 season, a diverse program boasting world premieres from acclaimed choreographers alongside some of the most beloved ballets in the classical canon.
Throughout the year, The Australian Ballet has bid farewell to a number of stand-out dancers, many of whom have led rich and celebrated careers for more than 20 years with the Company.
For more information about The Australian Ballet, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Images: Davi Ramos – photo by Sasha Gouliaev | Mia Heathcote – photo by David Kelly | Victor Estévez – photo by David Kelly