Elizabeth Cumming, Director and Teacher
Founder of Ballet West Academy
Elizabeth danced professionally with The Australian Ballet and in Europe. Her professional experience has enabled her to have been taught and inspired by many world renowned teachers from companies around the world.
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Elizabeth commenced her ballet training in New Zealand with Lorraine Peters at Southern Ballet School in central Christchurch. She performed in their Junior Company as well as making several appearances with the Royal NZ Ballet and in a gala concert with Rudolf Nureyev as a young student.
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At the age of 16 she was awarded a study scholarship to the National Theatre School in Melbourne for full-time ballet training and one year later was invited by Maina Gielgud to join the Australian Ballet Company.
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She has performed in many full-length and short ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Coppelia, La Sylphide, Onegin and The Merry Widow, Suite en Blanc, Etudes, Graduation Ball. She has worked alongside or performed in works by many world renowned choreographers including Stanton Welsh (Houston Ballet), and Jiri Kylian (Nederlands Dans Theater).
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Elizabeth was also awarded a study scholarship by the Australian Ballet to take classes with Stutgart Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet.
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Ultimately, injury led her to return to Australia to pursue a new career as an Osteopath. Elizabeth completed her five year double degree at RMIT University in 2000 and has been in clinical practice in Perth since that time.
In 2001-2013, Elizabeth established and directed West Perth Osteopathic Clinic and built the practice to employ 12 staff.
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Elizabeth has managed many professional and student dancers through injury in her practice, and continues to work as an Osteopath part-time. She is a member of IADMS (International Association of Dance Medicine and Science) and has an excellent working relationship with the Australian Ballet Company and WA Ballet Company injury management teams.
At Ballet West Academy, Elizabeth is quickly able to identify and address technical issues which contribute to injury. She takes an active role in creating effective return to dance management plans for injured dancers. She communicates with other teachers and health professionals to gain the best outcome. Current research is implemented into our every-day teaching programme and additional conditioning and coaching is provided where necessary.
Previously, in Melbourne Elizabeth taught beginner, senior and Full-time dance students at several well known dance schools. (RAD and Vaganova methods). Since relocating to Perth, she has been a guest teacher for the Cecchetti Ballet Society WA, West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPPA, Edith Cowan University), West Australian Ballet (adult classes).