James McDonell is a name to watch. The Riddells Creek dancer has joined The Australian Ballet Company’s Regional Tour in his graduating year at The Australian Ballet School.
The 19-year-old has been perfecting his technique for the stage following two years of pandemic lockdowns and uncertainty. He is excited to finally share his passion and bring this artform to regional areas around Australia.
“The thing that keeps me going is performing on stage in front of an audience and making them feel something through dance. It’s so rewarding and fulfilling,” he said.
“During the pandemic we obviously weren’t able to perform so for two years we weren’t able to show people what we were capable of. We spent a lot of time training and working hard.
“To keep the motivation going was difficult sometimes – especially when you’re gripping onto your kitchen bench for dear life, practising over Zoom.
“It was a big challenge, but knowing that the whole world was going through it – it wasn’t just me – made it easier.”
James said the first stage performances as crowds returned to fill theatres made him even more aware of his passion.
“I thought, ‘This is why we do train so hard, this is why why we put all that work in. This is why we do it’,” he said.
The Australian Ballet Company’s Regional Tour travels Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory from July to August. Towns include Launceston, Hobart, Mildura, Bendigo, Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Darwin.
The gala program includes a beautiful selection of pas de deux and Swan Lake variations, a tribute to the beauty of Tchaikovsky.
James never would have expected the incredible opportunities before him now, when he had his first taste of dance at age seven.
He attended a Riddells Creek local studio’s jazz class with a friend where his teacher recognised a natural ability and encouraged him to take up ballet.
His ballet teacher was former ABS student, Andrew Barneveld, who saw James had potential and took him under his wing.
Barneveld took James to a Victorian College of the Arts performance that changed everything.
VCASS is a specialist arts secondary college in Melbourne that offers training alongside academic studies.
“I thought it was so cool that they got to dance and go to school. It became my dream and I spent two years working hard to get up the standard I needed to audition,” James recalled.
His dedication and hard work paid off and he spent the next five years training there.
James continued to set new goals for his career. The next was auditioning for The Australian Ballet School.
The Melbourne school is highly selective, offering world-class ballet training and many of its students go on to dance for The Australian Ballet Company.
James knew the selection process would be rigorous. His first attempt at year 10 was unsuccessful but it only fuelled him to train harder. In his next audition he was selected as one of four to his level from about 60 dancers. He has now been training at the school for the past two years.
“It’s been such a great experience and it’s great to be around other like-minded people and who want the same thing but also supporters of each other,” he said.
“I’m really grateful for that positive atmosphere that I’m able to train in every day and the teachers are so supportive and full of knowledge. Their past experience is incredible – for them to be teaching us is kind of mind-blowing.”
Now, in his graduating year, McDonell will have the chance to audition for The Australian Ballet Company and other companies around Australia. There may even be an opportunity to travel internally for his career.
“All you can do is hope you’ve worked hard enough and keep an open mind,” he said.
“It’s scary and daunting but very exciting at the same time.”
The Regional Tour will be showing at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre on August 5 and 6.
