‘Take down the walls’: The innovative program bringing ballet to the bush

When Joey Romancewicz was growing up in Wollongong in the early 2000s, the soccer pitch and the footy oval were second nature – but the polished floors of a ballet studio seemed worlds away.

But when his mum made him tag along to his sister’s ballet classes one day, something clicked, and Romancewicz found an unlikely love for dance.

Australian Ballet coryphées Belle Urwin and Joseph Romancewicz.Credit: Louise Kennerley

“She signed me up without me knowing, chucked me into class with board shorts and my footy socks, and I ended up loving it. Ever since then, I started picking up more classes, and later pursued a career in the ballet world.”

Now 26, Romancewicz is a coryphée (leading dancer), and has been with The Australian Ballet since 2018. While he has come far, it has not been easy. Growing up, there were only a handful of dance schools nearby, and none specialised in ballet, spurring him to audition for the Australian Ballet School at 13.

“[I was driven] all the way from Wollongong, [to] basically run through the doors and be ready for the auditions, stone-cold,” Romancewicz said.

Australian Ballet dancers Joseph Romancewicz and Belle Urwin in a rehearsal room at the Sydney Opera House.Credit: Louise Kennerley

“It’s always hard, depending on where you are and what you do. Sometimes you get bullied – I was heavily bullied – but you’ve just got to keep going, you just can’t give up.

“Hard work always pays off.”

Now, for the second year, an innovative Australian Ballet program is bringing ballet to the bush, ensuring new generations of aspiring dancers do not have to travel so far.

From June 11 to July 4, hundreds of students in regional and rural Australia – some as young as five – will have the rare chance to come face-to-face with ballet, perhaps sparking a lifelong passion for the art.

The Telstra Let’s Dance program will provide students with the opportunity to learn directly from Australian Ballet teachers in dedicated lessons. They will also get a behind-the-scenes look at company rehearsals and see a performance at their local theatre.

The program will stop in Mount Gambier in South Australia, Warrnambool and Geelong in Victoria, and Wollongong, Orange, Dubbo and Tamworth in NSW.

Growing up, coryphée Belle Urwin, 24, would have loved such an opportunity.

“It would have given me more insight into what it’s like to be a ballet dancer and also take down the walls,” Urwin said.

“You usually watch us onstage with the lights, music, makeup, tutus … Behind the scenes, you take all that away, and you see us as normal people.

“It’s really great to show that to the young ones and inspire them.”

Australian Ballet répétiteur Paul Knobloch said teaching Let’s Dance students last year was rewarding.

“What made my heart so full is getting to see their little faces and the enjoyment that dance can bring to everyone,” he said.

“A lot of talent actually comes out of the regions – not only are we hoping to ignite a spark and a love of dance, but we’re also hoping to educate and encourage a love of dance and the performing arts in future generations.”

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