Natasha Middleton
Natasha Middleton
Originally from Tasmania, Natasha Middleton is respected as one of Australia's most distinguished dancers, beginning her career in Tasmania with the Tasmanian Ballet Company before moving to the West Australian Ballet in 1980. Natasha danced as Principal Dancer of the West Australian Ballet, working very closely with director and choreographer Barry Moreland, creating many full-length roles. Her classical experience during the '80s saw her perform as principal dancer in roles including Clara in The Nutcracker Suite, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Marguerite in Lady of the Camellias and the leading role in Giselle.
In 1984 she was awarded the Adams Award for the best female classical dancer in a state company. Natasha then accepted an invitation to dance as a principal for the London City Ballet for two years during which time she also danced as guest artist with Ballet Classico de Zaragoza, Le Ballet du Nord and Scottish Contemporary Dance Theatre. On returning to Australia, Natasha toured to the Philippines in Australian Stars of Ballet with Principal Dancers of the Australian Ballet. In 1988 Natasha danced a solo role in the National Bicentennial Tour of VAST, choreographed by Graeme Murphy, and received outstanding praise for her performance of the virtuoso ballerina role in Balanchine's Allegro Brillante. 1994 saw her tour with The Queensland Ballet Company and with the Australian Opera's production of The Trojans choreographed by Graeme Murphy. Afterwards she was invited to join the Sydney Dance Company, touring to Japan with productions of Synergy with Synergy and The Protecting Veil. During Natasha’s professional career she was also a principal dancer with Royal New Zealand Ballet and Tasdance. She was twice awarded the ArtsWA Development Grant to perform in Co.loaded and also for coaching in Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux in New York. Other awards Natasha has received include ACE Program – Australian Institute of Sport, Ian Potter Foundation Professional Development Grant to undertake the Advanced Diploma in Dance Teaching at the Australian Ballet School of which she achieved in 1999.
Natasha’s lifelong passion for dance is now fully engaged in passing on her skills and artistry to young people and adults. Her extensive career as a professional dancer coupled with teacher training, has prepared her as a teacher, mentor and coach in the discipline of classical ballet, specialising in technique, pointe work, body conditioning, repertoire, rehearsal direction, choreography and pas de deux and has also provided her experience in the teaching of both the RAD and Cecchetti syllabi. Natasha’s experience with companies such as Sydney Dance Company and as Rehearsal Director with Tasdance has also given her great capacity to teach contemporary dance.
Natasha has taught at various schools including West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, John Curtin College of the Arts Secondary School, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Westpointe Ballet Academy, City Dance Centre and Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance. In 2015 she established specialist ballet classes and coaching for adults and children called ‘True Ballerina’ and founded a Dance Centre for Adults in Northern Rivers NSW for classical and contemporary dance during which time she choreographed, directed and co-ordinated community dance productions in association with Northern Rivers Performing Arts. Natasha has also written, directed and performed in the dance-narrative film ‘Merge’ which was screened on the ABC in 2007 and 2009. Natasha has also studied Screen Acting Techniques at NIDA, Fashion Design at Dancing Queen, Interior Decoration and Design at RMIT, Introduction to Video Production at Swinburne University and Acting for Film and Television at Swinburne University.
Miss Natasha now lives in Creswick and we are delighted to have her at The Academy!
