The Australian Ballet

Meet the Coryphées: Sara Andrlon

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Sara Andrlon with Artists of The Australian Ballet, Don Quixote (Nureyev) 2023
Photo Christopher Rodgers-Wilson

Meet Sara Andrlon, the energetic Coryphée who knows the power of both an expertly executed jeté and a perfectly landed joke.

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing at age four. I was an overly active child and my mum put me in classes to burn off excess energy. Initially, I wasn’t that enthusiastic about it. In fact, it wasn’t until I was about eleven or twelve that I started to take a proper interest in it.

When did you join The Australian Ballet?

I joined the company in 2019.

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Sara Andrlon with Artists of The Australian Ballet, The Dream (Ashton) 2023
Photo Christopher Rodgers-Wilson

When did you know you wanted ballet to be your career?

I knew I wanted to pursue ballet as a career when I joined The Australian Ballet School. Before moving to Melbourne and joining the School, I wasn’t sure exactly what a ballet career looked like. To be in the same building as the company dancers made it all seem that much more tangible. I was also very aware of all the sacrifices my family had made to help me get to Melbourne, which fuelled my passion and desire to succeed.

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Sara Andrlon and Timothy Coleman, Circle Electric (Lake) 2024
Photo Pierre Toussaint

Do you have a dream role to dance? 

My dream role would be the Principal Dancer in ‘Diamonds’ (the third act of Jewels) by George Balanchine. I love how the choreography showcases the elegance and strength of the ballerina; she commands the stage from her first step out. I would also love to dive into a dramatic role such as Giselle or Manon. 

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Sara Andrlon with Artists of The Australian Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (Cranko) 2022
Photo Kate Longley

Who was your favourite dancer growing up?

Definitely Polina Semionova and Ulyana Lopatkina. I was drawn to these dancers because they are so strong and precise, to the point where they dance with utter abandonment. They are also both extremely elegant dancers. They both have the qualities that I strive for and desire to embody as dancer.

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Yuumi Yamada and Sara Andrlon
Photo Christopher Rodgers-Wilson

What’s something people may not know about ballet? 

Even though we may seem serious, we are actually very funny people! When it’s time for business we get down to it, but we definitely know how to have a good laugh every day. It’s one of the best reasons to come into work!

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Sara Andrlon
Photo Edita Knowler

What’s something people may not know about you? 

I have a pet dog called Alfie which I got when I first joined the company. I also like to knit in my spare time. 

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