The Queensland dancer who is ‘the other woman’ in The Bard’s timeless tale of forbidden love
After 10 years with The Australian Ballet, Toowoomba-born Isobelle Dashwood is still making her mark with a pivotal role in the company’s new production of Romeo and Juliet.
Regardless of whether you’ve ever – or never – seen a performance of the world’s most famous love story, The Australian Ballet’s revered production of Romeo and Juliet promises to immerse audiences in the intensity of the star-crossed couple’s inexorable passion.
“It really makes your heart swell and makes you weep.”
That’s how Toowoomba-born senior artist Isobelle Dashwood describes the magic of legendary choreographer John Cranko’s interpretation, which hasn’t been seen in Brisbane since 2003.
Focusing on Romeo and Juliet’s relationship and less on the group dynamics involving their warring families “really enhances their love story,” she elaborates. “Their partnering is beautiful. The music is really complemented by the movement. It all ties together to give you the best experience possible.”
Emphasising different details of Shakespeare’s tale offers another perspective from that portrayed in Queensland Ballet’s acclaimed recent staging of Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s Romeo and Juliet, a later 1960s creation also set to Prokofiev’s dramatic score.
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“There’s so much beauty in all the versions,” Dashwood says.
In portraying Rosaline, the initial object of Romeo’s affections, she aims to make the “most beautiful and eligible maiden in Verona” much more than a pretty face during her time onstage.
“There’s so much more to every single character, and it’s fun to tap into that and think, How would she feel if she’s thought that this person (Romeo) feels a certain way about her and then in front of her at the ball she gets snubbed?
“She is a very human character, and all of the things that happen in this ballet are very relatable human emotions and complex things everyone does experience.”
Dashwood’s appearances during the Brisbane season will be doubly special because on top of sharing the stage with younger sister LilySophia, who joined TAB’s corps de ballet last year, a Queensland-based cheer squad will be watching on.
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After 10 years with the company, Dashwood notes: “I definitely still have a connection there. My grandparents, cousins, uncles and other relatives, my old ballet teachers, and lots of people vital to my upbringing and training that got me here, are all in Queensland and come and support. It’s so special to have them in the audience.”
With mother Andie’s background as a dancer and teacher, it’s perhaps no surprise that four of the five Dashwood children, whose ages span 15 years, have absorbed her passion and pursued careers in dance.
Brother Charles (Charlie) is a leading artist with West Australian Ballet, while sister Samantha (Sam) has an off-stage role as Sydney Dance Company’s head of open programs and learning. Emily is a nurse.
“We’re a very tight-knit family and just feel like a bunch of friends, which is lovely,” Dashwood says.
Despite a nine-year age gap and being at different stages of their careers, she and LilySophia are “very very close” and benefit from working together.
“It’s amazing in this place, just watching people really inspires you, and you can learn so much from each other,” she says. “There are things that Lily is very very strong at that aren’t necessarily my strengths, and so I love being able to watch her dance and feel very inspired by that.
“And as her big sister, I am a mentor figure here and it’s just the best to witness her career as it unfolds for her. I feel very proud of her for the beautiful person and dancer that she is. There are so many amazing things that we’ve experienced, and it’s really special to be able to share that with someone you’re so close with. We’re very lucky.”
Those feelings are definitely mutual, as LilySophia happily shares in a company video post: “It’s pure inspiration; I just admire the way Dash (Isobelle) works so much. If I can have the littlest bit of grace and kindness that she has in her dancing and outside of the studio, then I’ll be very lucky in my career.”
Romeo and Juliet plays the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, August 15-22.
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