The Body Tells the Story

An emerging new generation of talented dancers is proving that Australia’s homegrown dance scene is more vibrant than ever. By combining individuality with a deep reverence for the art form, these young performers are transforming the way we as the audience view and experience their craft. Here, we talk to five dancers poised to make their mark. Their future looks bright.

When did you first fall in love with dance? 

My teacher told me to audition for NAISDA Dance College [on the New South Wales Central Coast], so I did, and through that I found my passion for dance. It was like something new entered my body — which was my love
for dance.

How has your personal history influenced your style of movement?

I come from a rich history of both my mother’s and father’s lines — I’m Gomeroi, from northern New South Wales, as well as Tongan, from Ma’ufanga, Tonga — that makes me who I am and how
I perform. My cultural background guides me in everything I do, from what I know to the things that I’m still learning. This helps me with movement because I can bring my knowing into the way I’m dancing to help tell the story.

What emotions do you find yourself returning to when you dance?

Once I’m on stage, it’s like I black out — something takes over me — and most times, when I get off stage, I don’t remember a thing. It’s like I’m allowing my body to truly be the mouthpiece for the story and it just takes over. 

How do you see dance evolving in Australia in the next decade and where do you see yourself in that shift?

I think dance is always going to be there. It has been here and it’s a part of our nation’s identity, whether you believe it or not. Art is a huge part of who we are and the more we can lean into it, rather than having an entertainment mentality towards it, then it’s unlimited where it can go. It makes me excited and keen for the future. I still feel like I’m learning, so I want to be a big sponge — we have our new work, “Illume”, which is a collaboration with [visual artist] Darrell Sibosado and [choreographer] Frances Rings that will be making its way to the stage this year. 

When I dance, I feel … 

Liberated, full and closer to spirit.

Daniel Mateo will perform in “Illume” by Bangarra Dance Theatre from June 4.

What was your big break?

I can’t really pinpoint a big break — there’ve been so many little things that have happened in my career. Joining Sydney Dance Company was such a career highlight for me, but I almost feel like I’m still growing, so I can’t say what my big break is yet. … I feel like I have to live everything first.

What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your dance career?

I may never have an answer for that, but I feel as long as I’m content and as long as I am happy and healthy, then that would be a fulfilling career.

How has your personal history influenced your style of movement?

I’m half Chinese; my mum is from Beijing. I feel a sense of connection to being a person of colour and how that needs to be so relevant now. Who I am and what I believe influences why I do contemporary dance and why I love the arts so much — it’s an expression of culture and it’s an expression of who you are, your identity. I love using my face and my body to encapsulate an emotion. I feel like I’m a very emotional person outside of dance and that definitely influences how
I work.

What do you hope an audience member carries with them after they watch you perform?

I want them to feel what I feel. I want to almost open a door to them, to feel like they’re in it with me. And I hope they take a piece of me with them.

When I dance, I feel … 

Everything. I feel everything.

Mathilda Ballantyne is performing in “Somos” by Sydney Dance Company until April 6.

What’s your earliest memory of moving your body?

I started dancing when I was three and I actually started because my speech and hearing was impaired. My mum put me into dance purely so that I would be able to communicate. I found that movement has always been a way of expressing myself. 

Describe a career highlight.

My first professional performance for Sydney Dance Company. It was very unexpected. I was still a student in pre-professional year at Sydney Dance Company and one of the dancers was injured.
I stepped in and learned the piece in four days before we flew out to Melbourne as a company. It was a special moment: my first professional performance, but also the backstory behind it made it even more incredible.

Any pre-show rituals?

We spend so much time rehearsing and perfecting these pieces that I like to think of performing as the cherry on top. Before going on stage, I love listening to music that will hype me up and get me pumped. I used to be really nervous, but now that I have a lot more trust in what my body can do, it’s nice to just celebrate on stage. I also say something to myself — but I haven’t told anyone because I’m scared I’ll jinx it!

When you’re not dancing, what are you doing?

I’m still learning how to switch off after work. I like journalling and getting my thoughts out because, as much as dance is physical, it’s also mentally and emotionally exhausting, and you’re putting everything into this job. It’s nice to be able to blurt everything out on paper, shut that book and step away.

When I dance, I feel … 

Exhilarated. 

Lucy Angel is performing in “Somos” by Sydney Dance Company until April 6.

When did you first fall in love with dance? 

My sister was a dancer and a ballerina, and I looked up to her so much. I used to go with my mum to see her concerts or shows when I was very young — that’s my earliest memory of ballet.

What has been your career highlight so far?

[The Australian Ballet] toured London in 2023 as a company and I trained at the Royal Ballet School there. I was lucky enough to perform in “Jewels” at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and to do that after graduating [in London] and thinking I wasn’t going to go back was a really special moment for me.

What emotions do you find yourself returning to when you dance?

My experience on stage is indescribable, really. It’s feelings of love and passion, and a real connectedness to a higher place. It’s not coming from me, it’s coming from somewhere else. And that connection to this higher place is what I feel inspires me to keep going and keep performing. It’s what art does. It’s what ballet does. It’s life-affirming.

What do you wish people understood about the life of a dancer?

It’s not an easy life. There are extreme highs and extreme lows. I think there’s potentially a misconception that it’s a very light, luxurious or beautiful lifestyle, but there’s a lot of ugly and there’s a lot of pain. It’s not all fairytales.

When I dance, I feel … 

Connected to something greater.

Grace Carroll will perform in “Nijinsky” by The Australian Ballet from April 4.

What was your big break?

It was a piece called “Watermark”, which was by [choreographer] Pam Tanowitz, who is New York-based. I had a solo created for me and I got to perform it on the Sydney Opera House stage. It was a pretty beautiful, serendipitous moment.

Can you describe the moment just before you step on stage —­ what’s running through your body and mind?

Your brain is just buzzing and your body is buzzing. There’s a looseness I feel in my muscles. Your brain knows that something big is about to happen … it’s a really heightened state.

What do you think the Australian dance scene is doing differently from the rest of the world right now?

I think sometimes Australia’s distance can make it feel like we are far away from what the rest of the world is doing. But a beautiful, second side to that notion is that Australian art has the ability to be really true, really unique and really honest. I think the physical separation can be to our advantage — it [results in] really honest and thought-provoking stuff.

When you’re not dancing, what are you doing?

Spending time with people I love. I spend a lot of time away from my family — you have to, to pursue something like ballet — but then when they watch me perform, I get that feeling that it has all been worth it. 

If dance had a political or social message, what would yours be?

I hope my dancing feels honest and real, and encourages people to tap into who they are. I think an audience wants to feel like they’re being sold the truth — a real story — and I find the success I’ve had in my career has come from expressing things that really come from inside of me. It’s a vulnerable thing to show off what makes you different.

When I dance, I feel …

Like I make sense.

Adam Elmes will perform in “Nijinsky” by The Australian Ballet from April 4.