Meet Soloist

Dana Stephensen

Introducing Dana

At the age of three Dana Stephensen began her dance training with Davidia Lind in jazz, tap, ballet and singing in her hometown of Brisbane. She later trained with Mary Heath and Sandra Ashley before studying with the Queensland Dance School of Excellence in 2001, obtaining her Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal. She joined The Australian Ballet School in 2002. In her graduating year she was seconded to The Australian Ballet to perform in various seasons before joining the company full-time in 2005. She has since enjoyed international tours to Los Angeles, New York, UK, Auckland, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Paris. At the end of 2008, Dana was awarded the Khitercs Hirai Scholarship, which enabled her to gain invaluable experience training with numerous ballet companies in Europe. Dana was promoted to coryphée in 2010 and went on to win the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award later that year. She was promoted to soloist in 2014.

repertoire highlights

  • Dawn in George Ogilvie and Peggy van Praagh's Coppélia 2016
  • Giselle in Giselle (The Australian Ballet's Regional Tour 2016)
  • Lescaut's Mistress in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon 2014
  • Rose Fairy in Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker 2014
  • Wayne McGregor’s Chroma and Dyad 1929 2014, 2013
  • Stepmother in Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella 2013
  • The Duchess in Stephen Baynes’ Swan Lake 2012
  • Guardian Swan in Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake 2008 - 2010
  • Pas de cinq in Serge Lifar’s Suite en blanc 2014, 2009
  • Mazurka in Les Sylphides 2009
Dana as Dawn in Coppélia. Photography Kate Longley

You may not know

Dana has a baby boy called Jasper and when she finds the time combines her passion for dance and nutrition on her blog The Balance Point(e)

Professional accolades

Awards

  • Telstra Ballet Dancer Award 2010
  • Khitercs Hirai Foundation Scholarship 2008

Guest Appearances

  • Kitri in Don Quixote, The Dancers Company tour 2010