JACINTA WALSH
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Jacinta Walsh
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Born in Melbourne, Jacinta studied classical ballet with some of the highly renowned international master ballet teachers such as Anne Woolliams, Madame Janina Cunova, Peter Appel, David Nixon OBE, Truman Finney and Dr. Lucette Aldous. Under Dr. Lucette Aldous, she studied the Vaganova method, the classical ballet techniques of the Royal Danish, Paris Opera and the Boris Kniaseff system. In the final year of her secondary school, Jacinta was granted the Big Brother Scholarship to travel to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom to perform at the Hong Kong Youth Dance Festival and the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Two years later, Jeanne Pratt awarded Jacinta with the Anthony Joseph Pratt Scholarship, and she graduated with a Diploma of Dance before moving to Europe to begin her professional ballet career.
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Anne Woolliams
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One of Jacinta’s greatest influences was the great master ballet teacher, Anne Woolliams. Woolliams was the co-founder of the John Cranko Ballet school in Stuttgart, the artistic director of The Australian Ballet, the founding Dean of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Dance and the artistic director of the Vienna State Ballet. Under Woolliams, Jacinta experienced the importance of having a mentor who could both recognise and enable a dancer’s full potential to be realised while developing the artistic expression of a ballet student; something she constantly aims to emulate for her ballet students. "Under the direction of Anne Woolliams the school advanced to one of the most internationally recognised addresses for talented young dancers." - John Cranko Ballet School
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Jacinta Walsh & Mats Ek (right)
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Jacinta accepted her first professional engagement with Heinz Spoerli at the Basel Ballet in Switzerland. She performed in Spoerli’s ballet productions like; Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet, and Paul Taylor's modern work "Esplanade".
Two years later, Jacinta accepted Youri Vàmos' offer to work with him in the same company. There she worked with numerous well-known ballet masters and choreographers, including Heinz Spoerli, Peter Appel, Maurice Béjart, Youri Vámos, Judith Jamison and Mats Ek. After working with Judith Jamison for her contemporary work, "Divining", Ms. Jamison invited Jacinta to join the Alvin Ailey Summer programme in New York City and wrote, "Your future is so bright!". |
Deutsche Oper Berlin
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Subsequently, Jacinta accepted Ray Barra's invitation to join the Deutsche Oper Berlin where she worked with world renowned choreographers John Neumeier, Glen Tetley, Nacho Duato, Peter Schaufuss, Rodrigo Pederneiras, Heinz Spoerli and Ray Barra among others. When the legendary choreographer Glen Tetley, staged “Voluntaries” he promoted Jacinta to soloist in the same ballet. Her experience with John Neumeier for his ballet “Undine” was also an unforgettable experience to work with a most inspiring great artist..
In Pederneiras' new work, "Alluvium", Dance Europe magazine wrote, "The dancers obviously enjoy performing the piece… Jacinta Walsh notably ´goes for it´…" (Claudi Assmann). Jacinta also was a guest soloist with Gregor Seyffert & Company for their European Tour. |
Tiroler Landestheater, Austria
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After, Jacinta explored Tanz Theatre (dance-theatre) and was invited by prominent German choreographer and artistic director, Jochen Ulrich, to perform with Tanztheater, Tiroler Landestheater in Austria. She performed as a principal dancer in his ballets: Romeo & Julia, Réverénce and Ich Tanze mit Dir in der Himmel hinein. Mr. Ulrich created several roles for Jacinta and she received very enthusiastic reviews, "the real highlight of the evening: The young dancer Jacinta Walsh ... Absolute highlight: Jacinta Walsh. The enchanting dancer is impressive through strong stage presence, with her radiant charisma." (Moni Brüggeller of Kronen Zeitung) and "... full of charm and humour the Hermes from Jacinta Walsh" (Ursula of Tiroler Tageszeitung)
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Jochen Ulrich
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In addition, Jacinta was the personal representative and assistant to Mr. Ulrich.
Together they worked tirelessly to help save the three ballet companies in Berlin. Jochen also encouraged Jacinta to undertake her Diploma and Masters in Business Management. He wrote, "Jacinta undertook my personal reference and especially represented my interests in Berlin on cultural political matters. Her work was well constructed, efficient and courageous, and achieved immediate results. Her manner and style are of respectful and highly cultivated forms combined with warm humour and open clarity. I highly recommend her capacities to become a successful company manager for dance. She will be herself the greatest support for the world of dance." |
Mikhail Baryshnikov
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When Mikhail Baryshnikov and his company the White Oak Dance Project toured to Berlin with "PASTforward", Jacinta joined the ensemble to experience working with one of the greatest male dancers of all time. "Performing on the same stage as the great Mikhail Baryshnikov was one of my career highlights. I grew up deeply admiring two world stars of ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova. To be in the presence of Baryshnikov and to have had the opportunity to engage with him was truly inspirational. I personally thanked him for all he has done and continues to do for the world of dance!"
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