Jayne Smeulders
Born in Dampier, Western Australia, Jayne began her training in all genres of dance at the Jody Marshall Dance Company followed by further study at The Graduate College of Dance.
In 1993 she received a scholarship to finish her studies in Germany at Hamburg Straatsoper GmbG Ballettschule.
Straight from Hamburg Ballet School, Jayne successfully auditioned for Nederlands Dans Theater II where she worked for four years. She accompanied NDT on tours to most major theatres all over the world. During her time at NDT Jayne worked with many internationally acclaimed choreographers including Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Paul Lightfoot, Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Lionel Hoche, Johan Inge and Gideon Obarzanek.
Jayne returned to her home town where she joined the West Australian Ballet. During her time with West Australian Ballet, Jayne danced many lead roles and worked with choreographers such as Ted Brandsen, Natalie Weir, Adrian Burnett, Chrissie Parrott, Simon Dow, Matjash Mrozewski, Askhat Galiamov, Petr Zuska, Kim McCarthy, Ashley Page, Stephen Page, Gary Stewart, Ivan Cavallari. Jayne was nominated for a Helpmann Award in 2003, awarded a WA Dance Award for Most Outstanding Female Dancer in 2008, and promoted to Principal Artist in February 2008.
Jayne has danced the roles of Kate in John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew with Stuttgart Ballet’s Principal Artist Filip Barankiewicz, Clara in Ivan Cavallari’s The Nutcracker and the title role in Giselle with guest Principal Atrist Ivan Gil-Ortega. Also in 2009 she was awarded the West Australian Citizen of the Year for her services to arts, culture and entertainment. In 2010 Jane took a break from the stage for the birth of her son Cooper and returned for the company’s May season to dance the role of Kitri in Lucette Aldous’ Don Quixote and the Lilac Fairy in Marcia Haydees’ The Sleeping Beauty.
Other career highlights include the roles of Tatiana in John Crankos’ Onegin, Lise in Marc Ribaud La Fille Mal Gardee, Myrtha in Scannella/Delasalle’s Giselle, Stephen Page’s Mundajali, Uwe Scholz’s 7th Symphony, Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries and Stairway to Paradise Principal Lady in Balanchines Who Cares?
Since her return to Perth, Jayne has choreographed a number of ballets to much acclaim for programs including West Australian Ballets Ballet Under the Stars seasons (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008). In 2011, Jayne choreographed her first full length show for West Australian Ballet, Cinderella.
Inspired by Balanchine, Jayne created a Grande Tarantella that premiered in West Australian Ballet’s Embraceable You season 2015. In 2016, Jayne created along side Aurelien Scannella and Sandy Delasalle a full-length Nutcracker for West Australian Ballet.
Retiring in 2016, Jayne now works at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts as Unit co-ordinator/choreographer of dance in Musical Theatre and Lecturer/Guest choreographer in Elite performance (Classical).