PHILLIP MCRAE, STEVEN’S FATHER: We balanced work, race car, and dance.
Most weekends were spent at the race track with dad drag racing. You just work hard, and you get the results. Mum worked as well when we were young, and work ethic was a big thing in our family. KELLY MCRAE WAX, STEVEN’S SISTER: Dad started working when he was 14. My father's an auto-electrician by trade, and my Mum and Dad ran their own business in Rooty Hill for over 20 years. I guess we can both really appreciate where we have come from.I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney. STEVEN MCRAE, PRINCIPAL DANCER, THE ROYAL BALLET: Now, we’re both principal dancers, there is an understanding between us and the way we work. There was, you know, a, a rivalry of sorts, as much as there can be in ballet. Who would have thought they would end up in Covent Garden dancing together, instead of against each other?ĪLEXANDER CAMPBELL, PRINCIPAL DANCER, THE ROYAL BALLET: I think it’s inevitable that people would compare us. KELLY MCRAE WAX, STEVEN’S SISTER: It was always Steven and Alexander competing against each other. And they do come from all corners of the world, but actually two of them are Australian. KEVIN O’HARE, DIRECTOR, THE ROYAL BALLET: It’s a special thing to be a male principal dancer. KEVIN O’HARE, DIRECTOR, THE ROYAL BALLET: The Royal Ballet is one of the great ballet companies in the world today.ĪMELIA CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S SISTER: To be a principal of The Royal Ballet, you’re the crème de la crème, you’re one of the best dancers in the world. ROSANNE CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S MOTHER: We hadn’t seen that coming, and so Mum then took him to his first ballet lesson, and from then on that was it.ĪLEXANDER CAMPBELL: How did this happen? How did two boys from western Sydney end up principals at The Royal Ballet? You know, is there something in the water, what’s happening? VALMA BRIGGS, ALEXANDER’S GRANDMOTHER, AND FORMER BALLERINA: He was only a toddler, and suddenly he held onto the fridge handle, lifted his leg into a perfect ‘attitude’.
BALLET LEAP PROFESSIONAL
PHILLIP MCRAE, STEVEN’S FATHER: And then he came home one day after watching Kelly practise her dancing and he said he wanted to go along to the dance studio and have a go at it.ĭIANNE MCRAE, STEVEN’S FATHER: I never thought he’d be a dancer, but he’s proved us all wrong.ĪLAN CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S FATHER: Good shot!ĪLEXANDER CAMPBELL, PRINCIPAL DANCER, THE ROYAL BALLET: I would’ve loved to have become a professional cricketer.ĪLAN CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S FATHER: One more, in the air, over there.ĪLEXANDER CAMPBELL, PRINCIPAL DANCER, THE ROYAL BALLET: Cricket for me was a connection with my dad I suppose.ĪLAN CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S FATHER: Good shot! Good boy.ĪMELIA CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S SISTER: Any Aussie dad would love to have a cricketer for a son.ĪLAN CAMPBELL, ALEXANDER’S FATHER: He was very good at cricket, there's no doubt about that. KELLY MCRAE WAX, STEVEN’S SISTER: We just sort of thought, “well, Steven will race when he’s old enough.” That was, that was our life. My sister and I were always at the track.
I dreamt of being a top professional drag racer. STEVEN MCRAE, PRINCIPAL DANCER, THE ROYAL BALLET: I grew up in a family that is obsessed with motor sport. PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER, WILLOWBANK RACETRACK: All the cars lining up on track now! Are you ready for some nitrate? Like me, they both come from the most unlikely of backgrounds. They have been competing against each other ever since they were little boys. Tonight’s story is about two extraordinary Australian dancers, Steven McRae and Alexander Campbell. LI CUNXIN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, QUEENSLAND BALLET: Hi, I’m Li Cunxin, artistic director of the Queensland Ballet, but perhaps better known as Mao’s Last Dancer. Related linksĪBC News article | Meet Australia's Billy Elliots taking over world balletĭeaf Children Australia | An organisation dedicated to removing barriers to the personal development and social inclusion faced by children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Now, in a rare feat for Australia, they’re both principal dancers at the prestigious Royal Ballet in London.Ī surprising story of rivalry, family sacrifice and sheer determination. The two men first met as boys competing on Sydney’s dance circuit and their careers have been closely intertwined ever since.īoth followed unlikely paths into ballet - Steven grew up in a family of drag racers and Alexander was a talented cricketer. Introduced by Li Cunxin, artistic director of Queensland Balletįrom humble beginnings in western Sydney, Steven McRae and Alexander Campbell have made it to the top of world ballet.
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