Like other artists, Australian ballet dancers have watched their work come and go over the past year and a half due to the pandemic, and many still find themselves waiting anxiously for lockdown restrictions to end so they can return to the stage. But in a piece of positive news, West Australian Ballet has just announced that it has created seven new full-time positions.

With WA currently free of community transmission of the virus, WAB has recently performed productions of Coppélia, Draculaand the triple bill State – but increasing the size of its company by seven dancers is still a bold, brave move at the best of times, let alone in the face of the ongoing shadow of COVID-19.

With the support of the WAB Board of Directors, the seven Young Artists for 2021 – former WAAPA students Brent Carson, Madeline Gill, Beatrice Manser and Sarah Ross, and graduates of The Australian Ballet School Ziggy Debrincat, Rab Flanigan and Izaak Westhead –...