I had the opportunity recently to ask Taliya Bennett some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Taliya is a phenomenal dancer, she graces the stage with incredible elegance and poise. Her love for ballet is amazing. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started ballet at 6 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance in Sydney, Australia at classical ballet 121

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I started pointe at 11 and am now 16 so about 5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I currently wear energetics pointe shoes, (otherwise known as Russian pointes)

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

Some of my friends were taking classes and I really wanted to as well, I was a very quiet and shy child so I loved ballet because I didn’t have to speak to anyone and just focus on doing everything correctly

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favourite variation would have to be either sugar plum fairy or Raymonda

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for Staataballett Berlin, English National Ballet or the Royal Ballet

Q8: Do you have a favourite memory/moment in ballet?

One of my favourite memories was learning the sugar plum fairy 3 weeks before performing and getting on stage doing my absolute best

Q9: Who are your ballet roles models? Dancers that inspire you.

My first ballet role model was Benedict Bemet from the Australian ballet, I remember going to watch them perform and being so mesmerised by her face and how she presented herself

Q10: Best advice you’ve ever received from a teacher?

That not all of dancing is about how well you perform physically and that so much of it is your mental state

Q11: Advise you’d give a young version of yourself?

Not to worry about what other people think of you, to come out of my shell and just dance because I love it

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

I love how challenging ballet is, that you could have always done something better and that how much you improve is a direct reflection on how hard you have worked

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

Not getting caught up in worrying about the future, being a perfectionist can also sometimes be challenging as you never feel that you did something well enough

Q14: It seems like such hard work, did you ever have days growing up where you were like “ugh maybe I’ll just pick an easier career so I can be like a normal teenager”?

No, sure it does get hard sometimes but I wouldn’t want to do anything else

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

I love both but romantic tutus look beautiful when they move around with your body

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

I am actually recovering from an injury right now, the muscles around my shins are very inflamed and I do have a little bone stress down the front of my shins

Q17: What do you like to do when you aren’t dancing (your free time)?

I love to go for bush walks, go swimming or listen to music…I probably spend most of my free time on Spotify.