Lucinda Dunn OAM has been appointed Level 8 Female Teacher at The Australian Ballet School, joining the faculty permanently from January 2027.
The former principal artist and The Australian Ballet’s longest-serving ballerina has already been working with the school’s Level 8 students throughout 2026.
“The Australian Ballet School plays such an important role in shaping the next generation of artists, and I feel honoured to be joining the faculty permanently,” Dunn told Dance Australia.
“Having Lucinda join the faculty in a permanent capacity is incredibly meaningful for our School. She is one of Australia’s most respected artists and educators, and her commitment to developing young dancers is exceptional,” Megan Connelly, Artistic Director and Head of School, told Dance Australia.
“Lucinda brings not only a wealth of professional experience, but also a generosity of spirit, deep artistic insight, and genuine care for every student she works with. We are thrilled that future generations of dancers will have the opportunity to learn from and be guided by her.”
Dunn trained in Sydney with Janece Graham and Tanya Pearson before winning a Prix de Lausanne scholarship to The Royal Ballet School in London. She joined The Australian Ballet in 1991, was promoted to principal artist in 2002 and retired from the stage in 2014 after a 23-year career with the company.
She became artistic director of Tanya Pearson Academy in 2014, returning to the school where she had trained, and led the academy for eight years. Subsequently, she has been coaching at Dance North Academy in Sydney's North Shore, and regularly appears as a guest teacher around Australia and New Zealand.
Her work with The Australian Ballet School this year has also reached the stage. Dunn choreographed the opening Défilé for Level 8 students in the school’s Winter Season at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, in June.
Level 8 students undertake the school’s Graduate Diploma of Classical Ballet, refining their technique and developing professional skills through performances and career development activities.
“Supporting young dancers as they discover their potential, develop their artistry and prepare for professional careers is incredibly rewarding work, and I am excited that this next act of my career will be spent helping them begin theirs,” Dunn said.