Eighteen-year-old Xavier Xué, a graduate of Queensland Ballet Academy, has been selected as the only Australian to join the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in New York for the 2025–2026 season. He will join ten other new dancers from the United States, England, Greece, and South Korea.
“Next week I begin a new chapter with American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in New York. I feel beyond excited and deeply grateful to my mentors, family, friends, and the Queensland arts community for helping me reach this dream. From the Gold Coast to the city that never sleeps – the adventure begins!” Xué shared.
Xué acknowledges the role of his training and mentors in helping him reach this milestone: “I am deeply grateful to Queensland Ballet Academy and to all my mentors, past and present, for their guidance and support. I would also like to thank the Prix de Lausanne for providing a platform to share my dancing with the world, and to Sascha for his belief in me.”
As he takes this next step, Xavier carries with him the lessons he shared in a previous Dance Australia Graduate Profile: “First, don’t train half-heartedly. If you commit fully, you’ll get the most out of what Queensland Ballet Academy offers. Success is driven by resilience, grit, passion, motivation, humility, artistry, discipline, and the courage to be fearless in the studio and on stage.”
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company develops the next generation of ballet dancers, choreographers, and audiences. Its mission is to prepare promising dancers aged 17 to 21 for careers with ABT’s main company or other leading companies worldwide. Nearly 85% of current ABT dancers are alumni, including sixteen Principal Dancers and eight Soloists. Each season, the company commissions new works from choreographers and presents a mix of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary repertoire, engaging audiences around the globe.
For Xué, this opportunity is both a culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of an international career. “At 18, I look forward to embracing this next chapter with dedication and passion,” he said.