Australians bolster Royal Ballet’s family

Alexander Campbell, who grew up longing to be a cricketer, is today a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet.

Principal ballerina Akane Takada with The Royal Ballet’s Australian dancers, from left, Steven McRae, Alexander Campbell, Benjamin Ella, Calvin Richardson and Harry Churches in Brisbane yesterday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Alexander Campbell was a sports-loving Sydney kid who longed to be a professional cricketer. Today, the 31-year-old is a principal dancer with one of the world’s renowned ballet companies, The Royal Ballet.

But after 14 years with the London company, Campbell is no longer an “antipodean’’ rarity.

Four other Australians have joined him at The Royal Ballet, which is in Brisbane for a fortnight performing two shows ­exclusive to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

“(Ballet) was a slightly more unusual thing to pursue,” Campbell told The Australian. “A kid from Sydney going to do ballet is unusual. That said, there’s probably a lot more competition to ­become a cricket player in Sydney than a ballet dancer.

“The decision was made that I would pursue ballet full-time. Cricket remains a passion — something I enjoy.”

Ninety-five elite dancers are in Brisbane to perform Woolf Works — an award-winning dance by Wayne McGregor based on the writings of Virginia Woolf — and The Winter’s Tale, an adaptation of Shakespeare by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.

Campbell and Steven McRae are the two Australian principal dancers and are supported in Brisbane by Benjamin Ella, Calvin Richardson and Harry Churches.

Asked if Australians were ­receptive to ballet and as engaged as audiences elsewhere, McRae said more work was needed to make the art more accessible to communities beyond Melbourne and ­Sydney.

“We all grew up being ­extremely athletic and outdoors all the time. But I think there has always been a great appreciation of culture and arts,” he said. “It’s still something that needs to grow and reach out further and further and made more ­accessible.”

The five Australian dancers have been with The Royal Ballet between five and 14 years. Two were promoted within the company: Ella from first artist to soloist and Richardson from artist to first artist.

Woolf Works runs from tomorrow to Sunday and The Winter’s Tale from July 5-9 at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $99-$249.

Selected members of The Royal Ballet will also perform a one night only Gala Performance in Cairns on 12 July.