About us
Our Dancers
The Principals
Sharon Fernandez
Sharon Fernandez has been a principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company since Project One. She trained at the Gay Wightman School of Ballet winning many major scholarships and awards.
Sharon’s professional career began at age 11 with the Australian Ballet in Graham Murphy’s “The Nutcracker”. She has been Principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company since May 2007 and had new works made on her by choreographers; Simon Hoy, Robert Kelly, Tim Harbour, Kim Vincs, Justine Miles, Simone Pulga and Remi Worthmeier. Sharon has studied and performed in the USA, Asia and New Zealand working with many inspiring teachers and choreographers.
Sharon has choreographed four works for the Melbourne Ballet Company “Premiere Amore”, “2XU’, Wall 2 Wall” and “Pause and Effect”.
"The peerless Sharon Fernandez" Chris Boyd Herald Sun Dec 2009
Career Highlights
• Sharon has Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
• Sharon was commissioned by the Australasian Dance Assessment to choreograph a 13 level jazz syllabus.
• Choreographer for Opera Australia events for 3 years.
• In December 2010, Sharon won the Maurice Lacroix “Spirits of the Arts Award” for her season with The Melbourne Ballet Company.
Rani Luther
Rani Luther is a principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company. Rani was born in Melbourne and started her dance training with Cynthia Nichols in Brighton. She then attended the National Theatre Ballet School before completing her year 7-12 and VCE education at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.
Rani’s professional career began with the Kiel Ballet Company, Germany, in 1995 where she danced the principal roles of Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” and Odile in “Swan Lake”. Rani then moved to Holland where she danced with the world renowned Netherlands Dance Theatre 2 and The Netherlands Dance Theatre 1 for 6 years, touring all over Europe and internationally.
In 2003 Rani returned home to dance with The Australian Ballet Company and then joined the Sydney Dance Company in 2007 for two years.
Rani has had the great pleasure of working with choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans Van Manen, Paul Lightfoot, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Edward Liang, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Yohan Inger, Graeme Murphy, Stephan Page, Stephen Baynes, Adrian Burnett, and Simon Hoy.
Career Highlights
• Winner of a gold medal in the non professional category at the “Sanlam International Ballet Competition”, Pretoria, South Africa in 1993.
• Winner of the outstanding performance award in the “City of Sydney Performance Arts Challenge” ballet competition in 1994.
• Nomination for best female dancer in the “Green Room Award” 2006.
• Rani has a Certificate IV in Massage and her Pilates teaching course.
• In May 2009, Rani won the Maurice Lacroix “Spirits of the Arts Award” for her season with The Melbourne Ballet Company .
• In December 2009 received an “Australasian Dance Assessment Sponsorship for Excellence” for Project 6 “Moment of Inertia” with the Melbourne Ballet Company.
Gemma Corlass-Brown
Gemma Corlass Brown is a soloist dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company. Gemma was born in Melbourne and started her dance training with her mother Fayette Corlass, Thelma Williams, VCASS and The Queensland Ballet Professional Year. Gemma was accepted into the Australian Ballet School on scholarship in 2001 and graduated in 2003.
Gemma’s professional career began in 1993 with the Australian Ballet performing the role of Kitri Doll in Don Quixote. Gemma was with the Queensland Ballet from 2004- 2005 performing and touring in Little Mermaid, Vis-a’ vis and Sleeping Beauty. She joined the Ajkun Ballet Company New York in 2006 and the Suzhou Ballet Company in China 2007-2008.
Gemma has had the great pleasure of working with choreographers such as Paul Boyd, Stephen Jefferies, Dollie Henry, Francois Klaus, Tim Brown, Adrian Ricks, Chiara & Leonard Ajkun, Kim Vincs, Robert Kelly, Sharon Fernandez and Simon Hoy.
Career Highlights
• Media appearances; Big Girls Blouse (Channel 10), Denise Drysdale Show (Channel 9), Kerrie-Ann Show (Chanel 7), Front cover New Idea magazine.
• Performed the role of “Pigtails” in Graduation Ball with the Australian Ballet School.
• Tokyo Disneyland Resort Winter Contract 2009/10 & 2010/11 performing Wendy, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Japanese tracks.
• Choreotopography with Kim Vincs in the Deakin Motion Lab.
Sakura Shimizu
Sakura Shimizu is a principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company. Sakura was born in Japan and started her dance training at Suzuki Classic Ballet Academy before joining the Hamburg Ballet School.
Sakura’s professional career began with the Hamburg Ballet under the direction of John Neumeier and she danced many lead roles in the major repertoire works including; Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Nutcracker, Lady of the Camellias, Midsummers Night Dream and Sleeping Beauty and new works such as Nijinsky, Messiah, Odyssey, Sleeping Beauty by Mats Ek and“8” by Christopher Wheelean.
In 2002 Sakura joined the Singapore Dance Theatre where she worked with many International choreographers including; Jiri Kylian, Stanton Welch, Thierry Malandain, David Dawson, Jorma Elo, Sakiko Oshima, Marie-Claude Pietragalla and Graham Lustig.
Career Highlights
• In 1990 and 1991 Sakura won 2nd prize in the Saitama all Japan competition.
• In 1992 Sakura was a semi finalist in the Prix de Lausanne.
• Sakura performed in Aoyama ballet festival in Tokyo 1994-1996, 1999 and 2000.
• In 2006 Sakura choreographed her first work “Reflection at Dusk” for the Singapore Dance Theatre.
Jessica Thompson
Jessica Thompson is a principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company. Jessica was born in Perth and started her dance training with Terri Charlesworth at the Graduate School of Dance and the Australian Ballet School where she graduated in 2003.
Jessica’s professional career began with the Australian Ballet in 2004 where she danced roles in many productions including; Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, La Sylphide, Les Sylphides, Raymonda, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Manon, La Fille Mal Gardee and many others. She participated in International tours with the Australian Ballet to London, Auckland and Tokyo. In 20009 Jessica joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company.
Career Highlights
• In 2006 Jessica danced in the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
• In 2009, Jessica won the Maurice Lacroix “Spirits of the Arts Award” for her season with The Melbourne Ballet Company.
• In 2010 Jessica received an “Australasian Dance Assessment Sponsorship with the Melbourne Ballet Company.
Adam Thurlow
Adam Thurlow is a principal dancer with the Melbourne Ballet Company. Adam was born in Melbourne and trained with his twin brother with Lorraine Blackburn and the Australian Ballet School.
Adam’s professional career began with the Australian Ballet under the direction of Ross Stretton where he performed many soloist and principal roles. He was promoted to the rank of soloist after only two years. In 2002 Adam joined the English National Ballet as a soloist dancing many lead classical and contemporary roles. In 2003 Adam became the first and only Australian to join the Opera National de Paris where he worked with many of the world’s top choreographers. In August 2006 Adam returned to the Australian Ballet before leaving for a freelance career in 2008.
Adam has had the great pleasure of working with choreographers such as Nureyev, Balanchine, Cranko, MacMillan, Killian, Bejart, Forsythe, Duato, Taylor and Hoy.
Career Highlights
• Repertoire highlights include lead roles in the following ballets; Don Quixote, Manon, Giselle, Swan Lake, Apollo, Theme and Variations, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Etudes, Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, Cinderella, Paquita, Le Sacre du Pritemps.
• Adam graduated with Honours and as Dux of his year at the Australian Ballet School.
• Adam's other hobbies include golf, surfing, tennis, collecting fine wine.
• Adam is doing an Advanced Diploma in appreciation for the wine and spirit trust.
• In December 2010 Adam received an “Australasian Dance Assessment Sponsorship for Excellence” for Project 8 “Palette” with the Melbourne Ballet Company.
The Dancers
Shannon Ellis
Alexander Bryce
Emma Corbett
Maughan Jameson
Geoffrey Watson
