Ausdance ACT is delighted to host two Masterclasses with Victorian State Ballet's Elise Jacques & Benjamin Harris on stage of the Canberra Theatre!

We are very excited to present two special masterclasses led by the Principal & Senior Artists of the Victorian State Ballet - Elise Jacques & Benjamin Harris during the Canberra Theatre season of 'Swan Lake'.

The workshops will take students through a ballet class offering some great insight into how professional dancers prepare for performance. Q & A session and photo opportunities at the end of the workshops.

Saturday 5th April - on stage of Canberra Theatre, participants arrive via the theatre foyer

10.15am to 11.30am - Intermediate/Advanced. Recommended for 14+ years old and adult dancers.
Cost $50, Ausdance ACT Member $35

Not a member? Sign up here

Places strictly limited.

Ausdance ACT’s Workshop Series is presented with support from Canberra Theatre Centre.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Elise Jacques
Elise joined The Victorian State Ballet in 2016 and has since been promoted to Principal Artist with the company. Elise’s love of dance began at the age of 3 when she attended the Sharon Lawrence School of Dance. Although being trained in jazz, tap and ballet, by the age of 9, Elise felt her calling was classical ballet and she auditioned to attend the Australian Ballet School, where she remained training in the Russian Vaganova method until she graduated at 18 years of age with a Bachelor of Classical Ballet. During her time at the Australian Ballet School, she was awarded two scholarships of Excellence and toured Australia with The Australian Ballet Regional Tour. Some of the highlights of her dancing career were performing in The Australian Ballet’s Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake and Peter Wright’s Nutcracker. Elise has had many highlights with Victorian State Ballet. Feature roles in the company include ‘Belle' in Beauty & the Beast, ‘Kitri’ in Don Quixote, ‘Clara’ in The Nutcracker, ‘Ariel’ in The Little Mermaid, ‘Gulnare’ in Le Corsaire, 'Gerda' in Snow Queen and recently, ‘Odette/Odile’ in Swan Lake.

Benjamin Harris
Benjamin commenced ballet training at the age of 8 in his hometown of Bendigo, Victoria. In 2018 he commenced full time training in Melbourne, continuing there for two years before being accepted into Queensland Ballet pre professional program for 2020. At Queensland Ballet he had the opportunity to work with many world-renowned teachers and choreographers on a number of new and established works which he found to be an invaluable experience. Benjamin joined VSB in 2022. Highlights of his time with VSB so far include performing roles such as Can Can doll in The Magic Toyshop, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Young Dimitri in Anastasia, Kai in the Snow Queen, Prince Siegfreid in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Cavalier, The Nutcracker Prince, Basilio in Don Quixote and Gaston in Beauty & the Beast.

Photo En Pointe Productions