STEPPING UP
JADE’S WINNING BALLET STYLE
JADE Wood was born to be a ballet dancer.
The 27-year-old former Mooroobool woman started dancing in her mum’s ballet studio at the tender age of two.
It wasn’t long after that when she realised dancing was her calling and was accepted into The Australian Ballet in Melbourne.
Now the dancer has been named a Telstra Ballet Dancer Award finalist.
“You’re nominated by your peers for this award. It’s really special to get this kind of recognition,” Wood said.
“Winning the award is an investment into our careers and will provide us with some brilliant opportunities.”
The dancer said she wouldn’t have made it to The Australian Ballet if it weren’t for the support of her family.
“When I was 13 my mum moved the entire family down to Melbourne so that I could be part of The Australian Ballet’s school program,” she said.
“My family are all so, so proud. They uprooted their
WINNING THE AWARD IS AN INVESTMENT INTO OUR CAREERS AND WILL PROVIDE US WITH BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITIES JADE WOOD
whole lives so that I could follow my dreams. I’ll always be grateful for their sacrifice.”
The winner of the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award wins $20,000, the largest prize on offer for Australian dancers.
To check out this year’s finalists and vote for the award’s people’s choice winner visit telstra.com.au/thanks/ arts/2018-telstra-ballet-dancer-awards-voting.
Former winners of the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award have gone on to become principal artists and ballet masters of The Australian Ballet.