Coryphée Stephanie Williams has only been with The Australian Ballet three short years, but has already danced an impressive array of lead roles. We celebrate Stephanie’s recent double Telstra Ballet Dancer Award win by sharing some of her favourite performances to date.
Concord
I was in both Por vos muero and Dyad 1929. For me, Por vos muero is the complete package. I fell in love with dancing it, and I fell in love with watching it – you can’t always say that. Dyad 1929 was incredible too. I loved watching Wayne McGregor work and hearing what he had to say – I liked being the sponge. No one had any pre-conceived ideas about the work, so I could just go out, dance and be me completely.
Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun
This is a work of pure genius. Throughout the ballet, you hardly catch eyes with your partner, but when you do it’s magical. It’s the most beautiful thing on stage when you share a moment with your partner that no one else truly understands. I was honoured to dance this with guest artist Cedric Ygnace for the Sydney season.
Stanton Welch’s The Sleeping Beauty
I love The Sleeping Beauty because it’s really classical, and that’s what you always dream of dancing as a little girl. I performed the role of the Lilac Fairy, which is very challenging. When I perform it I really feel like I’ve been taken away to another world.
Krzysztof Pastor’s Symphonie Fantastique
For the Adelaide season of Symphonie Fantastique most of our principal dancers were off so I had to learn the ballet in three days, and perform it on opening night. I just had to trust myself. If I’m given a challenge, I like to meet that challenge. It was a real milestone in my career.
Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain
I had only been with the company for three months when Christopher Wheeldon asked me to be in his After the Rain. It was really exciting and a wonderful opportunity to dance a featured part. It was technically challenging, too; a real initiation. To be dancing with the principals and holding my own was wonderful.
Interesting. Especially liked what she had to say about The Sleeping Beauty (I love it, too!).
Stephanie is such a beautiful dancer – right down to her fingertips. I saw her do Odette for her graduation performance with the ballet school a few years back and she nailed those 32 fouettes like a star. Could there be another Murphy Odette in the wings?
She learnt Symphonie Fantastique in three days?! I was there that night and she was stunning, absolutely beautiful in the dancing and the character. That’s the role which earned her my vote; two very well deserved wins!
Congratulations Stephanie! I saw you dance the lilac fairy. This was my first ballet, I was lucky enough to meet you and the other dancers – not only do i have an appreciation for the hard work and dedication you all have to your jobs, what i really admired was how genuinely beautiful people you were to talk too.
You have converted my “footy loving husband” to appreciate ballet as he thoroughly enjoyed the sleeping beauty.
My two girls dance ballet and i have bought a subscription , i am especially looking forward to seeing Coppelia and the Nutcracker and hope i have the pleasure of watching you and Leanne perform again.
Congratualtions to Stephanie on her awards and the entire Australian ballet.
I was really shocked to read today that Stephanie Williams is leaving the Australian Ballet at the end of the year. And also saddened – I was looking forward to seeing her climb the ranks. I feel like we barely got to see her dance this year, which I was also surprised about, considering she won the Telstra awards and all… Really weird.
I’m really interested to know what she is moving onto, or is it a temporary break?, as I’d love to follow her career. Does anyone know?
Hi there L,
Stephanie is heading overseas next year to travel and to pursue dance opportunities abroad. She will be greatly missed by us all, but we’re very excited for the next stage of her career.
Best wishes,
The Australian Ballet
Thanks Isabel, I’ll have to keep an eye out for her, then!
(And it’s really nice to have a forum where one can ask the Aus Ballet questions – love this blog.)
Thank you for the kind words, L!
Hi
Did Stephanie Williams leave the Australian Ballet?
Anyway, my name is Tamara and I’m a student from Definite Lee Dance.
My teacher is Miss Lee.
I think Miss Lee told me that I was going to meet you, or even watch your
performance!
Hopefully I can, I love doing Ballet.
Sincerely, Tamara.
What does “L” mean???