Could you introduce yourself, including your dance history?

My name is Jenson Blight, I’m 19 and a dancer with the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company. I started dancing ballet for fun at age 3, more seriously at 14, and professionally at 18!

My first job was with Queensland Ballet, until I moved to Amsterdam last August. I landed the job through the Prix de Lausanne, where I was awarded a prize, something I’m incredibly grateful for.

My first season with BTQ was The Little Mermaid (2017/2018), followed by Swan Lake & The Graduation Ball (2019/2020), and Cinderella (2020/2021)!

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What are the most important things that your experience dancing overseas (or dance in general) has taught you?

Dance has taught me a lot over the years. First and foremost, it taught me that

dancing is fun and really, that’s one of the most important ingredients. Along the way, it also instilled some serious discipline.

Ballet in Amsterdam, however, has taught me more about myself as a human. Moving away has highlighted how multifaceted dancers need to be. Learning how to manage the workload in a professional, unfamiliar environment can be challenging, but I’m grateful for it. It’s been a great life lesson in how to carry yourself.

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What does your time at BTQ mean to you?

I remember the friends I made, first and foremost. Many I still speak with, such a strong community. I don’t know if I’ve ever laughed as hard as I did during those lunch breaks as a kid.

BTQ provides a great introduction to a professional environment but tailors it to children through its strong support system.

I often think about how well it prepared me for company life.

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Do you have a favourite inspirational quote about dance?

This one isn’t specifically about ballet, but in context, it’s my favourite:

"If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got."

My ballet teacher Paul Boyd shared this with me, and as I’ve grown, it’s taught me to always look at progress from different angles and how important it is to tailor your routine to your goals.

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What does a day at Dutch National look like?

Typically, we work from 10am to 6pm.

Company class runs from 10:00 to 11:15, followed by a rehearsal for the next program from 11:30 to 1:30 (currently, we’re rehearsing In C by Sasha Waltz).

Then we have a 45-minute lunch break, and the rest of the day is filled with more rehearsals.

During production periods, our schedule shifts to 11am–11pm, it becomes a pretty hectic time filled with stage rehearsals, fittings, and shows!