ResDance Series 8: Episode 4: Thinking differently about training practices and the value of health care within dance with Steven McRae

In this episode, Steven reflects upon his experiences as a professional dancer and Principal of The Royal Ballet.  We position our conversation around the recently aired documentary “Steven McRae: Dancing Back to the Light”, which documents Steven’s journey with rehabilitation and return from injury. He reflects upon the revolutionary work of the Royal Ballet and a new sense of value he places on the role of scientific and embodied knowledge in underpinningand informing his practice.  Steven advocates the need for open dialogue and conversation around practices within dance and a greater accessibility of health provision within the sector.  Throughout the episode, he reflects upon the hope he holds for a greater sharing of experiences and the opportunity for a cultural shift in the training and workload practices of dancers.

Australian dancer Steven McRae is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He joined The Royal Ballet School on a Prix de Lausanne scholarship in 2003. He graduated into The Royal Ballet in 2004 and was promoted to First Artist in 2005, Soloist in 2006,First Soloist in 2008 and Principal in 2009. McRae was born in Sydney and trained with Hilary Kaplan and at The Royal Ballet School. He won the 2002 Adeline Genée Gold Medal and the 2003 Prix de Lausanne. His roles with The Royal Ballet include all the classical repertory and leading roles in works by choreographers including Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, David Bintley, William Forsythe, Kenneth MacMillan, Alastair Marriott, Wayne McGregor, LiamScarlett and Christopher Wheeldon. His role creations include Magician/Mad Hatter (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Jack (Sweet Violets), Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), Florizel (The Winter’s Tale), Emble (The Age of Anxiety), Creature (Frankenstein) and roles in Three Songs – Two Voices, Children of Adam, Chroma, Acis and Galatea (Royal Opera), 24 Preludes, The Human Seasons, Tetractys, Connectome, Woolf Works, Multiverse, The Illustrated Farewell, Yugen and concerto pour deux. 

McRae has performed as a guest artist with companies including American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Australian Ballet, Tokyo Ballet and at numerous international galas. His awards include the 2006 Emerging Male Artist (Classical) and the 2011 Best Male Dancer awards at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. In 2014 he was named Young Australian Achiever in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation. 

https://www.rbo.org.uk/people/steven-mcrae

Photo Credit: ‘Ballet Nights’

Contact details:

Instagram @stevenmcrae

Other social media platforms:

@royalballetandopera@verdensballetten

@a_resilient_man.film

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