Senior Ballet MistressKatie Hurst-Saxton

Christchurch born and trained, Katie was offered a full contract at the age of 16 with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. This led to a 9 year career with the RNZB touring to the UK, China, the USA and Australia, as well as regular tours of New Zealand. She has had the privilege of dancing the Principal roles in many of the great ballets such as: Coppelia, Giselle, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. Katie has also performed Soloist roles in Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Dracula, Milagros and many other productions. After teaching, adjudicating, and freelance dancing for 5 years around NZ and Australia, Katie joined the Victorian State Ballet in Melbourne as Principal Artist. While back in Chch for her Christmas holidays, Katie took a class with the RNZB and was offered another contract. Once again she had the opportunity to perform Principal and Soloist roles, these included Vivette in Roland Petit’s L’Arelsienne and Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. Katie has now retired from dance and has been a classical teacher at EnPointe Dance Academy in Wellington then Valerie Lissette School of Dance in Hamilton