Rockhampton’s Leanne Benjamin to lead Queensland Ballet

Former Royal Ballet principal artist Leanne Benjamin is thrilled to be returning home after 43 years to head Queensland Ballet.

Leanne Benjamin has been named as the new artistic director for the Queensland Ballet. Picture: Jason Bell

They call her Rockhampton’s “pocket rocket” and there is no stopping former ballerina Leanne Benjamin, who is returning from London to her home state as the next artistic director of Queensland Ballet.

The petite dancer will be ­stepping into the shoes of Li ­Cunxin, Queensland Ballet’s beloved artistic director of 11 years, who officially departs the company on Wednesday.

Benjamin was in Brisbane on Tuesday for the announcement of her new role and to meet the company’s dancers.

“I truly feel thrilled, very proud and honoured to be given the position,” she said.

“I feel that I really had to fly here to be with the dancers at this point. I know what it is to be in their shoes, with a new artistic ­director – it’s a big deal, and quite scary. I wanted to reassure them that they have a safe pair of hands.”

Benjamin was a principal artist with the Royal Ballet, where she danced major roles such as ­Giselle, Odette in Swan Lake, and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. She retired from performing in 2013 and since has worked as a coach with the Royal Ballet and other companies. She also serves as vice-chair of the Royal Ballet Companies board of governors.

Li announced his early retirement from Queensland Ballet in June, as he had been diagnosed with a heart condition and his wife, the company’s ballet mistress, Mary Li, was receiving treatment for cancer.

Mary Li, formerly McKendry, like Benjamin, grew up in Rockhampton.

Benjamin said she, Mary and Li had been friends for many years, and she was shocked when Li made the decision to retire.

“When I first heard about him leaving, I thought, ‘Gosh, who would step into that job?’,” she said, acknowledging his inspired leadership of the company.

Several people suggested Benjamin put her name forward, and she was encouraged by her warm relationship with QB executive director Dilshani Weerasinghe, with whom she had previously worked at the Royal Opera House.

Benjamin said she wanted to bring fresh creative voices to Queensland Ballet, and particularly to stage works by female choreographers such as Twyla Tharp and Cathy Marston.

“There are great works that have not been seen in this country at all, and that’s a great starting point,” she said.

Li said Benjamin was committed to ballet and to the Queensland dance community.

“Leanne brings an extensive experience on and off the stage, and I’m thrilled that I’m handing on my artistic guardianship to her,” he said.