Ella

In October 2012, Ella Havelka became the first Aboriginal dancer to be accepted into The Australian Ballet - an announcement that made headlines nationwide. A graduate of The Australian Ballet School, she spent years as a professional dancer with Indigenous dance troupe Bangarra before being offered this historic position. A descendant of the Wiradjuri people from Dubbo, Ella is attempting to progress at an art practice that whilst at times may embrace modern forms, is still widely regarded as a European tradition and a world away from contemporary and tribal dance. Featuring intimate interviews, dynamic dance sequences, historic archive and moving observational sequences we see how Ella remains grounded in her own culture while performing in the largest Ballet Company in the southern hemisphere.