The first indigenous dancer in The Australian Ballet’s 55-year
history, Ella Havelka, 28, understands the significance of her
appointment: “Even though I am doing [this] for myself because
I love to dance, it wasn’t just for me—it was for my mum and also
for the [indigenous] community.”
Born in Dubbo, NSW, and a descendant of the Wiradjuripeople, watching a video of Swan Lake when she was 13 set Havelka
on her path. “I was immediately drawn into that world of white
tutus and beautiful dancers leaping through the air, and decided to
go along to my first ballet class—I’ve been hooked ever since,” she
says. Gifted from the get-go, Havelka was soon dancing six days
a week and with the help of donations from the local community,
she moved to Melbourne at 14 to study at The Australian Ballet
School. But after four years of intense training, she was devastated
not to be offered a permanent position with The Australian Ballet.
Her classical dance dreams seemingly dashed, Havelka’spath took a different, yet serendipitous turn when she joined the
renowned contemporary indigenous dance company, Bangarra.
It was an opportunity to further explore both her passion and her
cultural heritage: “[Dance] is so freeing and you actually learn
more about yourself by becoming something else or someone else,
and I love that.” Three years later, the young dancer’s stars aligned
when, after performing with Bangarra in a co-production with The
Australian Ballet, Havelka was finally—and historically—invited
to join the core company. Though a dream come true, Havelka says
the transition from one discipline to the other proved challenging.
“For me, the biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome in my career
was going back to pointe shoes after four years of contemporary,
indigenous-infused dancing—essentially trying to retrain my
ankles and my toes and find my body again.”
After two years with The Australian Ballet—and many more
since her mother Janna brought home that video of Swan Lake—
Havelka’s story came full circle when she performed in Graeme
Murphy’s 2015 production of the famed ballet. “The obstacles [my
mum] has overcome to get me where I am today are astounding,
I certainly don’t know how I would have done it without her,” she
says. “[Mum] has always taught me to be humble and proud of
my heritage.” Those values extend to Havelka’s ongoing support
of Oxfam’s Close the Gap campaign, which aims to improve the
health and welfare of Indigenous Australians—and auctions off
traditional handwoven baskets, mats and lino prints Havelka
designs to raise funds for the charity.
Words of wisdom: “If I keep in mind that ‘this too shall pass’
it helps me get through the tough times and [also] make peace
with the ending of something good.” —FAITH CAMPBELLELL A
H AV E L K A
“MY MOTHER USED
TO ALWAYS TELL
ME THAT ‘SLOW
AND STEADY
WINS THE RACE’”
ARTS & CULTURE
JUNE 2017 In STYLE 85Women of Style