As we draw closer to the end of the 2023 Season, we sadly say goodbye to retiring and leaving Company Dancers for whom it's come time to pursue exciting new opportunities.

In particular, Demi-Soloist Carina Roberts will hang up her pointe shoes after dancing the leading role of Clara in the upcoming season of The Nutcracker. Carina is retiring from dance to pursue a new career in physiotherapy, commencing her studies early next year. She joined West Australian Ballet in 2015 as a Young Artist, and quickly landed her first leading role as Swanhilda in Greg Horsman's Coppélia that year, and then Clara in The Nutcracker in 2016. Carina has also featured in key character roles such as Alice in ALICE (in wonderland), Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, Mina in Dracula and Odile in our uniquely Western Australian Swan Lake. She has been a Teaching Artist in our Adult Ballet classes, with her Pilates sessions being one of the most popular classes. Read more about Carina's retirement in this article by The West Australian.

At the conclusion of The Nutcracker on 10 December, we also farewell Corps de Ballet Dancers Rose Dalton, Ziggy Debrincat, and Rab Flannigan, and Young Artist Oliver Evans.

All five Company Dancers started their careers at West Australian Ballet as Young Artists and have been a special part of our West Australian Ballet family for many years. We wish them all the best in their next adventures.