Xanthe Geeves
Dipl. Professional Dance '00
I moved from Australia to study at Palucca University of Dance Dresden as a seventeen year old.
The Palucca University of Dance Dresden offered a programme where I could indulge my passion for both classical ballet and contemporary dance, and be encouraged and nurtured as an artist. At the University, I had mentors who were to play a huge part in shaping my career as a dancer and choreographer, for example Prof. Tappendorf, Mr. Diekamp and Raymond Hilbert. As a student, I was offered amazing opportunities to perform with the Semperoper Ballet, Hannover Ballet and at the Prix de Lausanne. Upon graduating in 2000, I embarked upon a fourteen year performance career beginning with the English National Ballet, and ending as a Principal dancer in Hannover and Wiesbaden, with Stephan Thoss. This was followed by a period as a choreographer and dancer together with Gregor Thieler (Palucca Alumnus 2000) in the USA and Berlin (Impetus Dance Arts). In 2013, we became directors of Ballet Academy Northside in Sydney, Australia and took on the role as educators and choreographers. In 2017, we established Sydney College of Dance and Sydney Ballet Theatre company to provide a platform for Pre-professional dancers. We feel it’s important to give our students perspective of the diverse opportunities of an international dance career as performing artists, and experience the collaboration process of working with international choreographers.
As a choreographer I create works for the Schools Spectacular with the Featured Ballet Ensemble; tutor and choreograph with the Arts Unit of Education NSW and create career development programs for teachers of dance education in NSW schools. Schools Spectacular is a televised production with over 5000 students performed for a live audience of over 20000 spectators.
In 2020, I was delighted to return to the Prix de Lausanne, this time as a mentor for my student. After a decade of working as a choreographer with six full-length original productions, I was awarded The Australian Ballet’s Emerging Female Classical Choreographer 2020. This commission to create a work for The Australian Ballet will be an amazing opportunity to collaborate with world class dancers and Orchestra Victoria. Through my education and career as a performing artist and choreographer, I recognise that it is vitally important to nurture and develop a strong and confident artistic voice and to recognise that authenticity and intention are integral to forming a strong connection with an audience.
