Dana Stephensen
Born (1985-07-21) 21 July 1985[1]
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2005–present
Spouses
Michael Kai
​
(divorced)​
    ​
    (m. 2022)​
    Children3
    Career
    Current groupThe Australian Ballet

    Dana Stephensen (born July 21, 1985) is an Australian ballet dancer. She is a soloist of The Australian Ballet.

    Dance career

    Stephensen started her dance training at the age of three in Brisbane.[1] In 2001 she joined the Queensland Dance School of Excellence and obtained the Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal. After becoming an Interstate Associate of The Australian Ballet School, she joined the senior school in 2002. She performed several seasons seconded to The Australian Ballet and joined full-time in 2005. She was promoted to coryphée in 2010[2] and soloist in 2013.[3]

    Stephensen won the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award for 2010, jointly with Ty King-Wall.[4]

    Selected repertoire

    • Lead Cupid in Molto Vivace, 2010[2]
    • Guardian Swan in Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake, 2008–2010[2]
    • Kitri in Don Quixote, 2010 (as Guest Artist with Australian touring company The Dancers Company)[2]

    Other activities

    Stephensen played an Australian Ballet dancer in the 2009 film Mao's Last Dancer.[5]

    Personal life

    Stephensen has a son Jasper born on 23rd September 2015 with her former husband Michael Kai.

    As of early 2020, Stephensen was engaged to Lachlan Gillespie of the Wiggles,[6] whom she met while filming a Wiggles DVD special in December 2018. They wed in late November 2022.[6]

    On 11 September 2020, Stephensen and Gillespie announced via Instagram the arrival of their newborn twin daughters, Lulu and Lottie.[7]

    Awards

    • Telstra Ballet Dancer Award 2010[4]
    • Khitercs Scholarship, 2008[2]
    • James and Pamela Mills Scholarship, 2004[2]
    • Graeme Murphy Award for Excellence in Contemporary Dance, 2003[2]

    References

    1. 1 2 Sourris, Marie-Christine (30 October 2011). "Ballerina Dana Stephensen has a passion for dance". The Courier Mail. Brisbane. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dana Stephensen". The Australian Ballet. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
    3. ↑ "Back to back: Brett Chynoweth & Dana Stephensen". Dance Australia. 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
    4. 1 2 Jones, Deborah (6 December 2010). "Prince and the showgirl both worthy winners". The Australian. Sydney. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
    5. ↑ Dana Stephensen at IMDb. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
    6. 1 2 Ryan, Aine (April 2020). "Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie engaged to ballet dancer girlfriend: 'Dana asked me to marry her'". celebrity.nine.com.au.
    7. ↑ "Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie and Dana Stephenson have twin baby girls". News.com.au. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.


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