Meet six Corps de Ballet dancers of The Australian Ballet
Brett Chynoweth
Brett Chynoweth. Photography James Braund
Born & raised Melbourne
Began dancing at age five. My brother used to dance at a small suburban dance school and I used to hang around the studio, thinking that I would like to do the same.
Favourite book, movie and album
Book: Graeme Greene’s Our Man in Havana; Film: Candy; Album: Death Cab for a Cutie’s Transatlanticism
What were you like growing up?
I was an intense perfectionist with a touch of OCD! But I was artistic and a loyal friend.
Favourite ballet
Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet. Not only is it technically demanding, it’s emotional and passionate; incredible to see. And the Prokofiev score is unbelievable.
You may not know …
On the weekend or my days off, I love to get a coffee and roam the city and the galleries of Melbourne.
Favourite place in the world
Paris or Melbourne.
Ballet is … powerful, with a great capacity to push people’s perception of the arts and the physicality of the human body.
Kristy Corea
Kristy Corea. Photography James Braund
Born & raised in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne.
Began dancing at age six.
Favourite book, movie and album
Book: The Diary of Anne Frank and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief; Movie: Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet; Album: Konk by The Kooks
What were you like growing up?
My mum tells me I was quite an entertainer, full of energy and always busy. And I loved to tell stories.
Favourite ballet
Romeo & Juliet for its beautiful yet tragic story and emotional score.
If you weren’t a dancer, you’d be …
In high school I had a fascination for science and history, so maybe something in that field. I also like photography so that’s something I would have loved to have learned.
Current obsession
Reading or listening to music in my hammock.
You may not know …
I’m half Australian, half Sri-Lankan
Ballet is … one of the most beautiful forms of art, which gives me the most overwhelmingly amazing feeling.
Noah Gumbert
Noah Gumbert. Photography James Braund
Born & raised Sydney
Began dancing at age three.
Favourite book, movie and album
The last book I read was Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts – a great adventure! I like to watch kung-fu movies and listen to psytrance and hip-hop.
What were you like growing up?
I probably had a messy room and a big appetite.
Outside ballet …
I read history. I like to build things, fix things, work outside in the garden. I am passionate about philosophy.
If you weren’t a dancer, you’d be …
Maybe an actuary. Or a cake decorator. I can never decide!
You may not know …
I have a twin sister and we were born 15 weeks premature
What are you looking forward to this year?
Change.
Ballet is …Where I find myself ... and lose myself
Karen Nanasca
Karen Nanasca. Photography James Braund
Born Auckland, New Zealand
Raised Auckland and Melbourne
Inspirations
My dad. He was one of the first people to compete in the Winter Olympics representing the Philippines, a nation with no snow. He had such an amazing life, lived and skied around the world, and coming from a poor village in Manila showed nothing is impossible.
What were you like growing up?
Very shy and quiet. I was always off in my own world, making up stories and prancing around. I also firmly believed that I hovered just a little when I jumped off steps and that I had magical powers – I just couldn’t tap into them.
Favourite ballet of all time
La Bayadère. I love the character Gamzatti: she comes across as so beautiful and elegant but she has such a dark side.
You may not know …
I am left-handed, I want to learn another language, and I don’t like cheese unless it’s melted.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Getting on stage and working alongside the dancers who inspired me through my school years.
Ballet is … breathtaking
Luke Marchant
Luke Marchant. Photography James Braund
Born & raised Newcastle, NSW
Favourite book, movie and album
Book: Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Film: Life as a House; Album: Coldplay’s X&Y
What were you like growing up?
I never stopped moving and was often in trouble for something!
Inspiration
Carlos Acosta, because he’s exhilarating to watch and has such a wonderful stage presence.
Favourite ballet of all time
The Nutcracker because of the story behind it, and because the music is so exciting.
If you weren’t a dancer, you’d be ...
I was always interested in photography, and at one point I wanted to be a veterinarian.
Current obsession?
I love my coffee, and I just can’t get enough of books at the moment.
You may not know …
I’ve been an enthusiastic skier since the age of two!
Favourite place in the world?
I love New York city: the business, the diners, and Times Square.
Ballet is … a form of happiness
Valerie Tereschchenko
Valerie Tereschchenko. Photography James Braund
Born Kiev, Ukraine Raised Melbourne
Favourite book, movie and album
Book: There are so many! So far I have really enjoyed Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Oh, and I’m a Harry Potter fan too! Film: Amelie and Perfume; Album: Angus and Julia Stone’s Chocolates and Cigarettes, Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head and currently Lykke Li’s Youth Novels.
What were you like growing up?
Shy and very obedient but a hyperactive nutter in the playground.
Favourite ballet
Giselle. From the very first time I watched it, I felt like I understood every emotional aspect. The story really gets into your soul. I never get tired of watching it and I’m slightly embarrassed to admit it still makes me cry.
You may not know …
I speak fluent Russian.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Everything! Especially working with all the great choreographers who will be staging works on the company this year.
Ballet is … much too complex to describe in one sentence
