Rebekah Petty dancing in "Le Corsaire", photo courtesy of Michael Lean
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a rising star as a professional ballerina in Victoria. Rebekah Petty danced the principal role in “Le Corsaire” in its premier performance by the Victorian State Ballet Saturday, 20th May at the Plenty Ranges Art Centre in South Morang.
Rebekah started ballet lessons when she was four in Gosford and continued there for the next 16 years. When she was 20 she moved to Perth to study at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) where she earned an Advanced Diploma. She then attained a Bachelor of Arts after another year of study, completing all her studies in 2012.
Rebekah then moved to Victoria and took a position with the Melbourne Ballet. A year later she was accepted into the Victorian State Ballet. Rising quickly, she spent a year in the Corps (beginning level), and in 2015 was made a Senior Artist. In September of 2016 she was promoted to Principal. Saturday night's performance was her debut dancing the lead role.
Rebekah and her husband Dylan attend the church's Fairfield congregation in suburban Melbourne, where she serves as a counsellor in the congregation's Relief Society.
While balancing a dancing career with family and church responsibilities may seem difficult, Rebekah thinks otherwise. She says, “The road to becoming a professional ballerina has been a wonderful but challenging one. I'm grateful for a family who raised me with strong gospel principles and a knowledge of eternal perspective. Putting the Lord first has helped me find real joy and a great many successes in my life, both personal and professional!”