This month we had the pleasure of speaking with Brodie James. Brodie is a soloist for The Australian Ballet. Brodie was offered a scholarship to attend The Australian Ballet School in 2008. During this time he was able to study at Canada’s National Ballet School as an exchange student. He toured with The Dancers Company in 2011 and joined The Australian Ballet in 2012. Brodie has now spent a decade with the company during which he has been nominated for the ‘Telstra Ballet Dancer of the year award’ both in 2016 and 2018. He also acts as a dancers representative and a mentor to graduating students of The Australian Ballet School.
In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?
Athletic, expressive and perceptive.
Favourite ballet to dance?
My favourite ballet to dance is Swan Lake.
Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art form?
I do believe ballet is somewhat readily accessible when thinking about how digital technology enables people around the world to connect together and communicate with online dance communities. (However) even though we are able to engage with our art form digitally and transcend physical boundaries, there continues to exist financial, political, environmental or societal disadvantages that prevent people from equally accessing ballet.
What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?
That ballet isn't a full-time job. I often get asked what I do for real work after I've shared I'm a professional ballet dancer with The Australian Ballet. There isn't much time for anything else when you are rehearsing for and performing close to 200 shows a year.
What are you reading right now?
Growing up queer in Australia by Benjamin Law.
One thing that most people don't know about you?
I have a bachelor's degree in Media and Communication.
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 use my ultimate power of teleportation to transport children from disadvantaged backgrounds into a ballet studio so they can spend the day dancing with a ballet barre, on ballet Tarkett and with a live pianist. I would then teleport them into the theatre so they can experience the magic that happens when watching a live performance.
Favourite ballet to watch?
The Nutcracker. There is something very magical about how this ballet's story and music harmoniously come together.
If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?
I'd go back in time to when I was a teenager when ballet is starting to get more serious and tell myself to trust (my) gut feeling. Follow your intuition because it's leading you in the right direction and it'll seriously pay off for you in the future.
You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?
I'd most likely whip out my digital camera and start taking photos of it. How often would I have the chance to capture an elephant that's right in front of me!