Maddy Murphy, 16, travels 15,000km to join Swiss ballet academy
Sixteen-year-old Maddy Murphy, who grew up in the remote Queensland town of Julia Creek, is set to travel nearly 15,000 kilometres to Switzerland after earning a place at the prestigious Tanz Akademie Zurich. After years of balancing ballet, distance education and multiple moves for training, she hopes to become a professional company dancer while inspiring other children from rural communities…
Maddy Murphy, a 16-year-old from outback Queensland, Australia, is set to embark on a life-changing journey to Switzerland. After securing a place at the renowned Tanz Akademie Zurich, she will travel nearly 15,000 kilometres to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Maddy's passion for dance began at a young age, with her mother enrolling her in Branches Performing Arts studio in Julia Creek. Her talent and maturity quickly became apparent, leading her to move to Brisbane at 11 to attend boarding school while training at the Prima Youth Ballet Academy. At 14, she decided to dedicate herself fully to ballet, completing her high school education through distance learning.
Her rigorous training schedule often clashed with her schoolwork, but Maddy's determination saw her through. When the Prima Youth Ballet Academy closed in 2025, she moved to Sydney, joining Dance North while continuing her studies. Her hard work paid off when she auditioned for Tanz Akademie Zurich in March, one of only 22 places available in the prestigious academy.
Maddy describes ballet as a challenging yet rewarding art form that demands discipline and dedication. She is excited to begin her training at the academy, where she will immerse herself in the world of professional ballet.
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