Local ballerina twirls for Australia

A former Bondi local has realised her dream by achieving a coveted place in the tough world of ballet.

Jill Ogai (above) enjoyed an incredible start to the year, being one of five dancers to receive a place in The Australian Ballet, the country’s premiere ballet company.

The significance of the achievement has not been lost on the 20 year-old.

“It’s every ballet dancer’s dream to get a job dancing,” Ms Ogai said. “It’s always been a dream to get a job with the Australian ballet. It was like letting go of a breath, I’d been holding it in for a long time.”

Ms Ogai admits that it is difficult having friends who missed out on a place, especially as she studied with many of them for four years while at The Australian Ballet School.

“It’s really sad but that’s the reality of the ballet world. People are constantly moving or changing.”

Director of Academy Ballet, Sinead Vidler, said ballet dancers generally begin training around five years. They often leave school in Year 10 to pursue full-time training for around four years. Then, if they are lucky, they may get into a company.

General Manager of the Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy, Nicole Sharp, said there are limited opportunities for dancers to establish a career in Australia. Many are forced to move overseas for work or further training.

“Many hope to return to dance with The Australian Ballet at some stage,” she said.

Ms Ogai’s passion for dance began young. She was five when she and her brother watched a video of Swan Lake. They quickly fell in love with ballet and began lessons.

“That movement, that freedom, and feeling of strength and music running through my body,” she said, describing her passion for dance.

“It’s the way it still is now. That dream and that one moment where it all made sense. Stepping into another world.”

Ms Ogai grew up in Bondi, enjoying a swim and a surf when away from the dance studio, but left when she was nine. She lived in Adelaide for a few years before moving to Melbourne to study at The Australian Ballet School.

She is currently focused on the company’s upcoming production, Infinity, which will be appearing in Sydney from 5 to 25 April. She added that she is simply trying to live in the moment.