The Australian Ballet has announced the addition of ten new artists, strengthening the Company with a dynamic blend of emerging Australian dancers and international performers. Appointed by Artistic Director David Hallberg, the new dancers join across the ranks of Senior Artist, Soloist, Coryphée and Corps de Ballet.
Several of the artists have already appeared with the Company in recent productions, while others will take their Sydney bows before the end of 2025. The remainder will join in early 2026, adding new energy to a troupe that now comprises seventy-eight full time dancers from ten countries.
The Company’s close relationship with The Australian Ballet School continues to shape its artistic identity. Four graduates will enter the Corps de Ballet in 2026: Natalie Henry from Japan, Bronte Mollison from Canberra, and Sydney born dancers Estelle Crompton Lamb and Stephanie McQuire. Many have already worked with the Company through secondments and work placements, illustrating the strength of the pipeline between the School and the professional stage.
Queenslanders Isabella Howard and LilySophia Dashwood return home after studying or performing overseas, joining Japanese dancer Nanami Inoue in the Corps de Ballet. Several of these artists have already appeared in Manon, Prism and The Sleeping Beauty.
Three international dancers expand the Company’s artistic reach. Precious Adams, currently First Soloist with English National Ballet, will join as Senior Artist for the 2026 season. Adams has performed more than 750 times since 2014 and was named one of BBC’s 100 Women in 2019 for her leadership and advocacy.
Finnish artist Marko Juusela joins as Soloist in the coming weeks. A graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, he began his career at the Mariinsky Theatre before moving to the Polish National Ballet as Soloist.
New Zealand dancer Damen Axtens joins as a Coryphée, bringing experience from Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. A former student of both The Australian Ballet School and The Royal Ballet School, he has recently performed with The Australian Ballet in Prism and during the Melbourne season of Manon.
Reflecting on the appointments, Artistic Director David Hallberg said, “I’m thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of artists into the Company as we bring our 2025 season to a close and look ahead to 2026. The calibre of talent speaks to the strength of our artistic community both here in Australia and abroad.”
He added, “It’s deeply rewarding to see graduates from The Australian Ballet School step seamlessly into company life alongside experienced international artists. Together, they will help shape the next chapter of the Company and continue to inspire and captivate audiences with their artistry.”
Audiences will have the chance to see several of the newly announced dancers when David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty returns to Sydney from 21 November to 17 December 2025, ahead of the Company’s 2026 season.
The Australian Ballet remains the largest dance company in the country and one of the most closely integrated with its associated school, with more than seventy percent of dancers having trained at The Australian Ballet School.