Madeleine Eastoe is an Australian retired ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer at The Australian Ballet.

Madeleine Eastoe
Born1984 or 1985 (age 38–39)[1]
Perth, Australia
EducationAustralian Ballet School
Occupationballet dancer
Years active1997–2015
SpouseTim Harbour
Children1
Career
Former groupsThe Australian Ballet

Biography edit

Eastoe started ballet at age six, in Perth, Australia. In 1994, Eastoe moved to Melbourne to study at the Australian Ballet School. She joined The Australian Ballet in 1997.[2] She had some opportunities early on, including filling in for a soloist to dance Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux with David McAllister.[3]

Eastoe was promoted to principal dancer in 2004, after debut as the title role in Giselle. She had since danced lead roles in other productions, such as the title role in Cinderella, Lise in La Fille mal gardée and Odette in Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake. She danced the latter on tour in UK, Japan and Paris, including the opening night in London.[2] She originated the role of Juliet in Murphy's Romeo and Juliet.[4]

In 2009, Eastoe appeared in the 2009 Li Cunxin biopic Mao's Last Dancer. She played Houston Ballet's Lori Langlinais, and danced with Chi Cao, who portrayed Li.[1]

In 2015, Eastoe retired from the Australian Ballet. She reprised the role that led to her promotion, Giselle, in Adelaide for her farewell performance.[5] After retirement, she taught adult ballet class at the Australian Ballet and pre-professional classes at the Melbourne School of Classical Dance.[6][7]

Selected repertoire edit

Eastoe's repertoire with The Australian Ballet includes:[2]

Created roles

  • Graeme Murphy's Romeo and Juliet
  • Stephen Baynes's Constant Variants

Awards edit

Source:[2]

Personal life edit

Eastoe is married to choreographer Tim Harbour. They have a daughter.[8] She worked at the Australian Ballet's wardrobe department during her pregnancy.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Romeo and Juliet ballerina Madeleine Eastoe makes her pointe". The Courier-Mail. 26 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Madeleine Eastoe". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Madeleine Eastoe on Retiring from The Australian Ballet". Dance Magazine Australia.
  4. ^ "Romeo & Juliet Viewing Guide". 30 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Madeleine Eastoe to bid farewell to the stage". Dance Australia. 10 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Madeleine Eastoe on Teaching". The Australian Ballet. 16 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Madeleine Eastoe". Melbourne School of Classical Dance. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. ^ "How I unwind: Madeleine Eastoe". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Ballet dancers keep in step with family life". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 2009.