Alumni Spotlight: Katherine Rooke

As a child growing up in rural NSW, Katherine Rooke’s love of ballet was ignited by music and dancing in her family home.

“I remember dancing around the lounge room at a very young age to whatever CDs I could find. My love of ballet was mostly inspired by music and the freedom to express myself through movement,” Katherine recalls. “I also enjoyed the challenge and feeling that each different step gave me.”

Dance classes started for Katherine at seven years old and by age 14, she realised her dream of building a career in ballet. In preparation of this, she danced six days per week at a studio in Port Macquarie in the years before taking the leap in becoming a professional artist.

“Queensland Ballet Professional Year [now Pre-Professional Program] seemed like the perfect place to begin a career in dance. It not only offered further training but also experience through the opportunity to perform with Queensland Ballet,” Katherine said. “The most valuable qualities I developed during my time in the program was artistry, technique and confidence.”

After the completion of her Professional Year in 2008, Katherine performed as an artist with Queensland Ballet for seven years. Itchy feet set in, and eventually landed her in Germany.

“I have been happily dancing with the Staatsballett Berlin since 2015. Pursuing my love for ballet overseas has been a dream come true,” Katherine said. “I have since been involved in productions such as Jewels, The Second Detail, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Onegin and Don Quixote.”

To date, the highlights of Katherine’s career have included dancing Tracy in The Second Detail, Aurora in Greg Horsman’s The Sleeping Beauty, Snow Queen in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker, Queen of the Wills in Ai-Gul Gaisana’s Giselle, and the Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade.

“Each of these roles has been a challenge, a new experience, an amazing feeling and the joys of my career. The nerves beforehand, the elation during and sense of exhausted accomplishment afterwards is what I love about performing.”

For those looking to follow her pirouettes, Katherine shares some advice:

“Confidence, confidence, confidence!,” She beams. “Dancing confidently makes all the difference – believe in yourself, know your strengths and weaknesses, be open to criticism and don’t be afraid to try new things.”

Learn more about Queensland Ballet Academy's professional dance training programs here.

Images provided by Katherine Rooke. Photographer: Paulio Sovari.