Vicki Attard

Classical Ballet Coach | Full-Time

Vicki comes from Mackay, Queensland, where she studied ballet with Dawn Armstrong and Betty Meskell before her acceptance into The Australian Ballet School.

In 1985 she joined The Australian Ballet and was promoted to Coryphee in 1987, Soloiste in 1991, Senior Artiste in 1992 and Principal Artiste in 1993. She joined Sydney Dance Company for its 1989 season and rejoined The Australian Ballet in 1990.

Vicki performed all principal roles and many and varied leading roles during her 15-year career with the Australian Ballet.

Her many leading roles include those in In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Beyond Bach, Afternoon of a Faun, Jardi Tancat, Return to a Strange Land, Nuages, Symphony in C, Suite en Blanc, Las Hermanas and Stepping Stones, the title roles of Giselle, La Sylphide, Anna Karenina and Manon, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Clara, The Ballerina in Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Hanna in The Merry Widow, Lise in La Fille mal Gardee, Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew, Ada in The Competition and Tatiana in Onegin. Vicki Attard created the role of Cio Cio San in the world premiere of Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly in 1995, the same year she won the James & Diana Ramsay Scholarship which enabled her to study in Copenhagen, London and Netherlands. 1997 included leading roles in the world premiere season of Stanton Welch’s Cinderella, Stephen Page’s Rites for the Melbourne Festival, Gemini, In the Upper Room, and Apollo. As well, she received the Mo Award for Best Female Dancer of 1996. In 1997 Ms Attard performed the roles of Nikiya in La Bayadere, Lizzie in Fall River Legend and Imogen in 1914. She also performed in Por vos Meuro and with David McAllister in El Tango as part of the Collaborations season.

Highlights of Vicki’s career included dancing Kitri, Don Quixote on the opening night of the Washington season with David McAllister (current Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet), the title role of Manon in Tokyo with Li Cunxin (current Artist Director of the Queensland Ballet) and the opening and all subsequent performances of Cio Cio Sa in Madame Butterfly for the New York season with Damien Welch.

Vicki toured the world with The Australian Ballet including London, Greece, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, New Zealand, United States of America and Thailand.

Vicki has been the recipient of numerable scholarships enabling her to study in Copenhagen, London and Netherlands with world renowned coaches. Vicki was blessed to have been able to work with some of the world’s leading coaches and choreographers, including Gelsey Kirkland, Natalia Makarova, Dame Margaret Scott, Glen Tetley, Nacho Duato and William Forsythe.

Vicki retired at the end of 1999, and immediately undertook and received a Graduate Diploma in Dance Instruction.

Early 2001 saw Vicki assisting Stanton Welch in re-staging Madame Butterfly with The National Ballet of Canada for the ballet’s North American debut, and subsequent American seasons with Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet. Later in 2003 Vicki oversaw the final staging of Madame Butterfly for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and once again re-staged Madame Butterfly for The Australian Ballet in 2011.

Vicki has continued to instruct companies around the globe and at many major Sydney institutions over the past 18 years. She has produced her own unique pointe programs, entitled ‘My Pointe’ and ‘My Beginner Pointe’ alongside Physiotherapist for Dancers, Lisa Howell. Both programs are all- encompassing and specifically designed for young dancers and dance teachers alike, covering the safe dance practices and aesthetic components involved in the instruction of pointe work.

Most recently Vicki was appointed Interim Director of the Houston Ballet Academy by the company Director Mr. Stanton Welch AM. She maintained the position for 2 and a half years where she oversaw 1,000+ students, 7 full time faculty members as well as co-managing the second company HBII.

Vicki continues to instruct and adjudicate within Australia and abroad.