The 2023 Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards
Ballet dancer Lilla Harvey is one of five rising stars selected for the 2023 Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards. We chat to Lilla about her unwavering passion for her art and how she continues to remain dedicated and fearless amidst the hard work.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
Lilla Harvey is one of five nominees for the 2023 Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards. Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
‘It took a lot of bravery and faith to decide to leave school and my family at 14 and commit to one of the most difficult career paths in the world – something I would not have been able to do without the unconditional support and belief from my family, friends and teachers.’ says Lilla Harvey. Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
‘2022 was a fantastic year – the highlight for me undoubtably would be Kunstkamer and performing my first lead role in that while getting to work with choreographers that I had idolised for years. The whole experience was surreal and working with Sol León really forced me to drop any self doubt or ego, expand and take up as much space as possible and surrender to the intention of the art,’ says Lilla Harvey. Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
The Australian Ballet and Telstra have come together for the past 20 years for the Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards – an award which recognises the talent, passion, hard work and sheer determination that rising stars from The Australian Ballet have for their art.
The awards were created in 2003 to support the rising stars of The Australian Ballet, with many winners going on to become principal artists at the company.
The nomination process is no easy feat – each year, five nominees are carefully chosen by the company’s principal artists and past Telstra Ballet Dancer Award winners. For the dancers chosen, it’s a great honour to not only be recognised, but also to have their determination and potential recognised by their peers.
The five dancers nominated for this year’s awards include: Adam Elmes, Isobelle Dashwood, Riley Lapham, Katherine Sonnekus and Lilla Harvey.
Originally from Subiaco in Perth, Lilla, a corps de ballet dancer, started her dance journey at her local school. ‘Here I was given an amazing, rounded education in dance and so much support. But it was never forced, which gave me the chance to be self motivated and driven, which is crucial for professionals,’ shares Lilla.
Lilla started her graduate year at The Australian Ballet School just as COVID hit in 2020. Like for many of us, amidst the struggle, lockdown also presented a silver lining. ‘That time really forced all of us to question whether this is really what we wanted to do, the joy and rewarding parts were lost to the pandemic and the hard work remained. Now I am so grateful – it taught me how to be resilient, resourceful, how to seek inspiration when I really felt I had none, and how important sharing and human connection are to the core of ballet.’
While life as a ballet dancer can be gruelling and competitive, Lilla shares that it’s also a place where lifelong connections and bonds are formed.
Lilla is most grateful for the support of her family, who encouraged her every step of her dance journey. ‘There is a long list of people in my life that I would not be here without. At number one is my family, I genuinely owe everything to them. They put absolute trust into me and my potential, passion and work ethic that I would make it as a dancer and that all the schooling and ballet shoes and countless other sacrifices were worth it.’
Winners of the awards will be announced at Sydney Opera House on 20th May, following The Australian Ballet’s closing performance of George Balanchine’s, Jewels.
Jump online before voting ends on May 2nd to vote for Lilla here.
‘As a professional, your priorities become the performances, and when that season finishes, the next begins almost immediately.’ Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
‘I love knowing my family is watching me when I dance. I dance for them because I love knowing that people are proud of me and happy for me, it’s the most gratifying thing.’ Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
“When you get out on stage you can trust the music, movement and intention will carry you through, getting to that flow state where thoughts and nerves fade away, that’s what I aspire to and is why it’s so important to put in the physical work so you can achieve that moment.”
‘The ballet world, while it can be competitive and tough, is somewhere where you will find the most supportive people who form such close bonds.’ Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson
‘It is so easy to equate rest to laziness but you cannot be useful or productive when you’re burnt out –that has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt so far, and it’s a continuous trial and error that I will keep working on.’ Photo: Christopher Rodgers Wilson