BalletWithoutBorders

Q&A with Shane Wuerthner

Shane’s dance journey began at The Kirov Academy of Ballet, where he graduated top of his class in 2004! His exceptional skill and artistry were recognised by several prestigious companies, including San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, and Vienna State Ballet. Wuerthner accepted the offer from Vienna State Ballet and joined as a corps de ballet memberin 2005. In 2012, he made a significant move to The San Francisco Ballet as a soloist. In 2014, Wuerthner joined Queensland Ballet as a Soloist, and his unwavering commitment and consistent performances led to his promotion to Principal in 2015.

Having retired from ballet in 2017 to begin a career as a personal trainer. His knowledge of dancer conditioning and passion for fitness quickly made him a sought-after figure in this field. Notably, he was named Personal Trainer of the Year before he had even completed a year as a trainer. Wuerthner's experience in fitness led him to establish Athletistry Personal Training, a venture that focused on adult ballet coaching and holistic movement practices. Building on the success of this venture, he launched Athletistry Studio, which marked his return to the ballet world in an administrative capacity.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

My life’s passion

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite ballet I ever danced was Anna Karenina by Boris Eifman. I had the opportunity to dance both the corps de ballet and Vronsky. It was an incredibly challenging ballet in which no one had the same choreography. I remember when people would get sick or injured in the corps, it would often take 4 people just to replace 1 person, and if any of the 3 principals went off they would replace the entire principal cast.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I think it has become more accessible in recent years, but it still has a long way to go. Other forms of commercial dance have opened a gateway to ballet being more widely accepted, but it still sits in an elite space that still is out of reach for many. The cost of performances and ballet training can be extremely high which places ballet in a higher socio-economic bracket. Efforts that have made ballet more accessible have included outreach programs, scholarships for talented dancers from underprivileged backgrounds, and the incorporation of contemporary themes and music to attract a younger and more diverse audience. Digital platforms have also played a crucial role in making ballet more accessible both through performances and in a training capacity as is the case with what I offer through Athletistry. Despite these efforts, the challenge remains to fully democratise ballet and make it truly accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status, background, or geography. This requires not only addressing the financial barriers but also challenging the cultural perceptions that frame ballet as anexclusive art form. By continuing to innovate and open doors to diverse audiences and talents, I believe ballet will evolve to be more inclusive, reflecting a broader spectrum of society's narratives and experiences.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

That it is all pink tutus and fairies. Ballet is incredibly powerful in it’s ability to portray complex societal narratives and emotions. Especially through much of the choreography done in the mid to late 20th century we see a development towards unique stories being told with deeply touching story lines that weren’t evident in the classical and romantic era of ballet. I also think ballet is seen as something only for women. As a man in ballet, the training I experienced was intense, challenging and very masculine in it’s design. I had a male Ukrainian teacher and our classes would run for 4-5 hours 6 days per week. Jumps, turns, athleticism and power were all emphasised and prioritised.

What are you reading right now?

The Book on Mental Toughness by Andy Frisella and The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

One thing that most people don't know about you?

My first dream in life was to be a musical theatre artist on broadway. I actually didn’t like ballet very much as a child until I had the opportunity to train with a male ballet teacher named Mikko Nissinen who is now Artistic director of Boston Ballet.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

It is bridging the accessibility gap for those who would otherwise never be exposed to the incredible art of ballet. This is so essential as it is how the art form will be maintained into the future. By sharing ballet with children we build the possibility that they will become lifelong lovers of ballet if not performers or teachers who become it’s future custodians.

Favourite ballet to watch?

La Bayadere

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

Speak up. I was always very quiet, and not a great advocate for myself. As a result I often ended up being a push over and this lead to me feeling unvalued. So many of the misunderstandings I had in my career could have been avoided had I communicated how I felt earlier.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

Teach it to dance.

Q&A with Callum Linnane

c. Jeff Busby

This month we had the pleasure of interviewing the recently promoted principal artist of The Australian Ballet, Callum Linnane. Callum was accepted into The Australian Ballet School in 2008 and graduated dux with honours. He joined The Australian Ballet in 2015; he was promoted to coryphée in 2017, to soloist in 2018, to senior artist in 2021, and to principal artist in 2022. Callum was recognised as Telstra’s dancer of the year in 2016 and has delivered incredible performances as The Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella and Vaslav Nijinsky in John Neumeier's Nijinsky amongst many others.

In 3 words, what does dance mean to you?

Necessity, expression, truth.

 Favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite ballet to dance is probably John Neumeier's Nijinsky. It holds a special place in my heart as it was the first full-length principal role I performed. I loved the movement vocabulary and having the opportunity to dive into Vaslav's psyche.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe there is still work to be done in this area. For example, if you grow up in a remote area, there may not be a ballet school close enough to attend a class. And even if you do, ballet class can be very expensive for families considering the class cost, uniform, shoes etc. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as the exposure to sports one gets at school. You can send your child to school, and at lunchtime, they can kick a footy around, they can play some basketball, or they can pick up a pen and paper and draw something. I wish it were a little easier to access ballet in everyday life. The one positive is that it's easy to watch ballet online and through social media.

What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

That it's entirely feminine. Ballet requires strength and discipline. Moving your body to music has nothing to do with femininity or masculinity - it's just expressing oneself however that may be for the person.

What are you reading right now?

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.

1 thing that most people don't know about you?

I love listening to ASMR. It’s so calming.

Ballet Without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?  

I would arrange for every single child to experience a ballet performance. So in every little town, everywhere, there is a world-class ballet performance that is free to go and watch. Maybe that will inspire the next generation of dancers who may never have even crossed paths with ballet.

Favourite ballet to watch?

This changes all the time. But right now I would happily watch The Lady of the Camellias by John Neumeier or Shoot the Moon by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell my 12 year old self to stretch more! No, I would also tell my teenage self to go lightly. Don't get so emotional about things. If you take the emotion out of things, you can approach things with a clearer mind and not get so upset and angry. This applies to life in the ballet studio and outside of the studio. And one more thing, stop worrying about what other people think.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I care for this elephant, this elephant and I become the best of friends and live a happy life together.

Q&A - Alice Topp-Australian Ballet's resident choreographer

In 3 words what does dance mean to you?

Soul in motion.

2. Favourite ballet to dance?

William Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated and Wayne McGregor’s Infra, and Jiri Kylian’s Petit Mort...and...and.. I just can’t pick one!

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe that dance is a universal language. People all over the world dance when they feel joy or when celebrating and it’s a universal way of connecting with others. Body language a big way of expressing oneself. Ballet can sometimes be trickier for people to relate to and understand but I believe most of the time it’s just that ballet is misunderstood as a form of art just to be appreciated by an elite group of people. Most ballets speak of common themes relating to the human condition - love, loss, joy, tragedy, passion - something everyone will experience in life and can connect with. And most people have a love for music! So I think it’s just about dispelling the theory that ballet is only tiaras and tulle!

4. What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

I think when people think of ballet they believe there’s so much focus on the aesthetics - being a particular height, weight and look and having certain physical attributes and facility, like highly arched feet etc. Being a ballet dancer is SO MUCH MORE than that! You are not just a sum of your parts! To be a ballet dancer you are first and foremost an artist, a storyteller. You also require incredible mental strength to deal with the pressure of demanding schedules, relentless touring, injury and retaining countless counts and repertoire! Being a dancer requires great athleticism, strength and endurance as a performer as well as discipline, determination and commitment to get to that level. It’s so much more than “the look.”

5. What are you reading right now?

The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg

6. 1 thing that most people dont know about you?

That I’m a big country kid and if I’m not in pointe shoes, I’m in Blundstones.

7. Ballet without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen

I would make sure every child had the opportunity to see a live performance at a venue for free. We’d fill theatres around the globe with children who’d never experienced ballet. It would be 24 hours of shows and we’d make sure children from all regional and rural areas were able to travel to their nearest venue to witness a show and meet the performers. If I had ultimate power beyond a day, I’d make sure they had access to free classes and dance education forever more!

8. Favourite ballet to watch?

Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself not to be afraid to take up space. Not to be afraid to be different, unique and imperfect. To have courage to be seen and heard and to be unapologetically honest as an artist and human. As perfectionists, we are always spending so much of our careers self-critiquing and comparing our journey to others, but it’s all over so quickly, and you want to enjoy the short time you have! Don’t spend it wishing you were this or that but celebrate you and your unique gifts. No one else has that to offer!

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

Sadly I think it would be too big for my apartment!! I’d have to find it some land which I might turn into a wildlife conservation where we could educate people from a young age to appreciate the world and all it’s inhabitants and cultivate compassion and empathy for other living things.

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Q&A with David Hallberg-Meet the Australian Ballet's new Artist Director

Last year, we connected with the Australian Ballet’s newly appointed Artistic Director, David Hallberg. David boasts an incredible ballet career including being a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet, and as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet.

Check out the Q&A below and discover David’s favourite ballet to watch and dance plus his hot tips for upcoming dancers.


How old are you? 38.

What companies have you performed with? American Ballet Theatre, Guest with the Australian Ballet, Former Principal with the Bolshoi.

When you’re not touring with a company, how do you stay in shape and what is your jet lag remedy? Jet lag remedy is Melatonin! And not thinking about the previous time zone.

We already know shaving is part of the ritual of getting performance-ready, any others? Nap. Eat well. Focus the mind!

A surprising thing people don’t know about you? I love a cold beer with my manager after a show in my dressing room.

A ballet you enjoy watching rather than dancing? Almost all of New York City Ballet repertoire.

Have you ever taught adult ballet before? Would you? I have not, and don’t find myself the best teacher.

When you are in the moment and it’s effortless and perfect, what word would you use to describe that feeling for yourself? As close to euphoria as possible.

What was the last gift you received and from who? Love and care. From my boyfriend.

What was the biggest mistake you have made during a performance? Not risked enough. Worried too much.

Do you have a tip that improves flexibility? Know your limits. Warm up properly. And flexibility doesn’t make a good dancer.

You are given an elephant. You cannot sell it or give it away. What do you do? Love it. Learn from it.


To keep up with David’s journey, check out his social media platform here. Learn more about Ballet Without Borders and our 2020 impact here. Subscribe to our newsletter to get exclusive access to future Q&As and regular updates on our growth. Ballet Without Borders: helping all children experience the joy of ballet.

2016-The Year for Ballet

Happy New Year everyone!
We hope that everyones year is filled with peace and happiness.

I feel that 2016 is going to be a big year in Australian Ballet. Since moving to Sydney over 10 years ago, there has been a shift in the audiance and a steady increase in ballet attandance. Watching the Australian Ballet's Sleeping Beauty performance at the end of 2015, I noticed plenty of young adults in the audience which was very pleasing!

Ballet Without Borders has some big goals for 2016.

1. Increase our public profile
2. Start discussions and collaborations with areas where we feel the school would be of the most benefit to both the individual student and the community they live in
3. Collaborations
4. Increase funding

We are very excited to see what will emerge for us in 2016!

Well wishes

Katia & Team