When David McAllister was a little boy growing up in Perth he would tuck tea towels into his undies and dance around in front of the TV.

He watched his own reflection, as he twirled, and leapt around the lounge room.

At 7, David went to his first ballet class at a suburban scout hall, and loved it right away.

But doing ballet was a kind of social death for a boy, in the 1970s in Western Australia.

David says the torment he went through at school helped to spur him on to become one of the best dancers of his generation.

After winning at place at the Australian Ballet School, he joined the Australian Ballet company in 1983.

One artistic director told him his nose was all wrong and he would never be cast as a prince, but he eventually danced many principal roles.

David was named as the Artistic Director in 2001, and he's been the longest-serving director of any in the Australian Ballet.

Next year he will retire after 37 years with the company.

Further information

Learn more about the Australian Ballet's 2020 season

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