Meet Senior Artist

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 and to senior artist in 2018.

repertoire highlights

  • Swanilda in Coppélia (The Australian Ballet' Regional Tour 2019)
  • Stepmother in Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella 2018, 2013
  • Tertulla in Lucas Jervies' Spartacus 2018
  • Tim Harbour's Filigree and Shadow 2018
  • Valencienne in Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow 2018
  • Princess Florine and the Fairy of Temperament in David McAllister's The Sleeping Beauty 2018, 2017
  • 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 Infra (2017), Chroma (2014) and Dyad 1929 (2013, 2009)
Dana as the Fairy of Temperament in David McAllister's The Sleeping Beauty. Photography Jeff Busby

You may not know

Dana has a young son called Jasper who is the light of her life.

Professional accolades

Awards

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

Guest Appearances

  • Kitri in Don Quixote, The Dancers Company tour 2010