Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Riley Lapham. Riley started dancing early in her home town of Wollongong, and by age 14, she had joined the Australian Ballet School. But from here, Riley's journey takes twists and turns. In her graduation year, Riley missed her final performance due to injury. But in a Center Stage-like moment, the then artistic director David McAllister offered her a contract with the company.

In this brave and vulnerable conversation, Riley and I talk about what it's like to join a company while injured, and what it was like to deal with the worldwide shutdown that occurred in 2020 as a junior member of the company. Riley also speaks about a topic she's not yet discussed publicly—her journey with long Covid—what it was like to contract Covid just as she was nominated for Telstra Ballet Dancer of the Year, and then the unexpected journey of not getting better. We talk about the grief and the devastation that followed the acceptance of a slow recovery, her decision to move to France, and the journey back to the stage with the Australian Ballet.

Riley continues to train and work with the Australian Ballet's rehabilitation team, while gaining her strength to make a return to the stage. To continue to follow all of Riley's wonderful adventures, you can find her on Instagram at @rileylapham. Talking Pointes is produced on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, to whom we pay our greatest respects. 

Talking Pointes is produced on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, to whom we pay our greatest respects. 

Production dream team ✨

Hosted by @byclaudialawson

Produced by @fjordreview

Additional Production @clinttopic

Sound & Editing @outputmedia

Studios @brightsidesydney

@sawtoothstudios