Artistic Partner – Natalie Hammond

It’s our absolute pleasure to introduce one of our APATA Artistic Partners – Natalie Hammond.

Listen to our very first APATA Podcast Episode with Natalie – From the Stage to the Classroom

A little about Natalie

Born in Coonabarabran, Natalie began her dance training on the Gold Coast where she was a Star Dust Junior studying tap, jazz and musical theatre. She also represented her high school at the New South Wales State Dance Festival and the Schools Spectacular.

In 1994 Natalie graduated from the Australian Ballet School with Honours and whilst studying at the school, Natalie was a silver medallist at the Asia Pacific Ballet Competition in Japan. The Asian Grand Prix is an opportunity for young dancers aged seven to nineteen in the Asia Pacific to showcase their talent, learn from international dance experts, and receive scholarships and awards to develop their career in dance. Natalie has also been a bronze medallist at the Adeline Genee Awards in London. An award named after Adeline Genee, a Danish / British ballet dancer, the first president of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London now in its 88^th year. For her graduation performance with the Australian Ballet School, Natalie danced the role of Gerda in The Snow Queen.

In 1995, Natalie joined the Queensland Ballet and won critical acclaim for a variety of principal roles. These included Tough Girl in Antony Tudors ‘Echoing of Trumpets’, Lilac Fairy in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, Myrtha, Queen of the Willis in ‘Giselle’, Sugar Plum Fairy in ‘The Nutcracker’ and Helena in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

She was also a member of the company during their highly successful coast-to-coast tour of the United States. Natalie worked with a number of Australian choreographers during her time with the company including Natalie Weir, Stanton Welch, Garth Welch, Harold Collins, Stephen Baynes and Rosetta Cook.

In 2000, Natalie left the company to purse other interests and spent time with World Dance Company dancing numerous international styles for their ‘Journeys’ tour and Expressions Contemporary Dance Company before taking up freelance and guest teaching throughout Queensland and New South Wales.

Natalie has previously adjudicated Charters Towers, Redlands and Grafton Eisteddfods.

These days Natalie is also enjoying choregraphing and dancing in music video clips recently working with Sheppard and Hayden James and is a much-loved teacher at 2ballerinas – Queensland’s leading adult dance school.

We look forward to working with Natalie and having her on board the APATA train as a member of our community and sharing her expertise.