Hall of Fame

Australian dancers who shaped ballet here and abroad, and the moments that built it. Tap a photo for the story.

Pavlova arrives at Central Station, Sydney, April 1926. Photo: Sam Hood, State Library of New South Wales. No known copyright restrictions.

1926
Anna Pavlova tours Australia

The Russian ballerina, one of the most famous dancers in the world, tours Australia in 1926 and again in 1929.
With Margot Fonteyn in Façade, 1936. Photo: Gordon Anthony, National Library of Australia. Public domain.

1930s–40s
Sir Robert Helpmann

Born in Mount Gambier, he became the leading man of London’s Vic-Wells Ballet and Margot Fonteyn’s first partner. He later co-directed The Australian Ballet from 1965 to 1976.
Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka, Theatre Royal, Sydney, January 1937. Photo: Sam Hood, State Library of New South Wales. No known copyright restrictions.

1936–40
The Ballets Russes arrive

Colonel de Basil’s Ballets Russes companies tour Australia three times. Some of the dancers stay on and help start ballet here.
Portrait by Helmut Newton, 1952. Photo: Helmut Newton, National Library of Australia. Public domain.

1930s–40s
Laurel Martyn

In 1935 she became the first Australian to win the Adeline Genée Gold Medal, and the first Australian woman taken into London’s Vic-Wells Ballet. Back home she danced with the Borovansky Ballet and taught.
Borovansky, Nicolas Orloff and Olga Morosova in Le Beau Danube, 1940. Photo: National Library of Australia. No known copyright restrictions.

1940
The Borovansky Ballet begins

Édouard Borovansky, a Czech dancer who stayed after the Ballets Russes tours, starts the company that leads Australian ballet for the next twenty years.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

1950s
Elaine Fifield

Sydney-born, she joined Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet in London in 1947 and created the title role in John Cranko’s Pineapple Poll in 1951. She later danced with the Borovansky Ballet and The Australian Ballet.
The West Australian Ballet Centre in Maylands today. Photo: Steelkamp, CC BY-SA 4.0.

1952
West Australian Ballet is founded

Kira Bousloff founds West Australian Ballet in Perth. It’s now the oldest ballet company in Australia.
On the cover of Woman magazine, 1951. Photo: State Library of New South Wales. Public domain.

1950s–60s
Kathleen Gorham

Born in Narrandera, NSW, she joined the Borovansky Ballet at 15 and became its star. In 1962 she became the first prima ballerina of The Australian Ballet.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated).

1960
Queensland Ballet is founded

Charles Lisner founds Queensland Ballet in Brisbane.
At Mascot, Sydney, September 1962. Photo: Jack Mulligan, State Library of New South Wales. No known copyright restrictions.

1960s
Garth Welch

Brisbane-born, he was a Borovansky Ballet principal and then a founding principal of The Australian Ballet from 1962 to 1973, partnering Marilyn Jones, Kathleen Gorham and Margot Fonteyn.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated).

1962
The Australian Ballet is founded

The national company is founded with Peggy van Praagh as artistic director. Its first performance, in November, is Swan Lake.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated).

1964
The Australian Ballet School opens

The national ballet school opens in Melbourne, with Margaret Scott as its founding director.
At Mascot, Sydney, September 1962. Photo: Jack Mulligan, State Library of New South Wales. No known copyright restrictions.

1960s–70s
Marilyn Jones

A founding principal of The Australian Ballet and its prima ballerina until 1978, then its artistic director from 1979 to 1982. She has been called the greatest classical dancer Australia has produced.
1973. Photo: Australian Information Service, National Archives of Australia. Public domain.

1960s–70s
Gailene Stock

Born in Ballarat, she recovered from childhood polio, joined The Australian Ballet at 16 and rose to principal. She later directed The Australian Ballet School, then the Royal Ballet School in London.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

1970s
Lucette Aldous

Raised in Perth, she danced with Ballet Rambert and London Festival Ballet before coming home to The Australian Ballet in 1970. She danced Kitri opposite Rudolf Nureyev in his 1973 film of Don Quixote.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0.

1973
Sydney Opera House opens

It becomes The Australian Ballet’s home in Sydney.
Taking a bow at Sydney Town Hall, 2011. Photo: Australian Human Rights Commission, CC BY 2.0.

1989
Bangarra Dance Theatre is founded

The Sydney company tells Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories through dance. In 2026 it made Flora with The Australian Ballet.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

1990s
David McAllister

Perth-born, he won bronze at the 1985 Moscow International Ballet Competition and was a principal of The Australian Ballet from 1989. He then led the company as artistic director from 2001 to 2020.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

1990s–2000s
Steven Heathcote

From Wagin, WA, he danced with The Australian Ballet for 24 years, 20 of them as a principal, until 2007.
Curtain call, Royal Ballet, 2006. Photo: scillystuff, CC BY-SA 3.0.

1990s–2000s
Leanne Benjamin

From Rockhampton, Queensland, she won the Prix de Lausanne and the Genée Gold Medal as a student. She was a principal of London’s Royal Ballet from 1993 to 2013.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

2000s
Lucinda Dunn

She joined The Australian Ballet at 17 and was a principal from 2002. When she retired in 2014 she was the company’s longest-serving ballerina.
Illustration: House of Ballet (AI-generated). No free photo is available.

2000s
Kirsty Martin

From Leeton, NSW, she danced with The Australian Ballet from 1995 to 2011. In 2009 she became the first Australian to win the Prix Benois de la Danse.
Hallberg in The Sleeping Beauty, 2010. Photo: Tbonny, CC BY 3.0.

2021
David Hallberg takes the helm

The American star, a former principal of American Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi, becomes artistic director of The Australian Ballet.

Who will be next?

Queensland Ballet Taron Geyl
The Brisbane-born company artist grew up training in ballet and taekwondo side by side, and his videos mixing the two have found a huge audience.
The Wiggles Evie Ferris
A Taribelang and Djubugay woman, she trained at The Australian Ballet School and danced with The Australian Ballet from 2015 to 2024. She’s now the Yellow Wiggle.
Sydney Stephanie Kurlow
She made headlines around the world as a teenager, training to become the first professional ballerina to dance in a hijab.
ELLA Foundation Ella Havelka
A Wiradjuri woman from Dubbo, she danced with Bangarra and in 2013 became the first Indigenous dancer invited into The Australian Ballet. She founded the ELLA Foundation for young First Nations dancers.

Rising through the ranks

The Australian Ballet Grace Carroll
Promoted to soloist in December 2025 after dancing the title role in Manon, and to senior artist in 2026.
The Australian Ballet Samara Merrick
Promoted to soloist after her debut as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and to senior artist in 2026.
The Australian Ballet Isobelle Dashwood
Promoted to senior artist for 2026 after dancing Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty.
West Australian Ballet Charles Dashwood
Promoted to Solo Artist in September 2026 after dancing the title role in Alice Topp’s Macbeth.
West Australian Ballet Brent Carson
Promoted to Leading Artist in September 2026, after opening night of Alice Topp’s Macbeth.

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