Kayla-Rose and dancers at the Sand and Seas Dance Troupe.

At just at 7 years of age, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Kayla-Rose is already beginning to realise her dream of becoming a ballerina. Growing up in the Lockhart River and rising to national prominence for her cultural dancing, she has recently been selected from a nationwide pool of Australian nominees to participate in the Yurali Ballet Ensemble. Founded by Indigenous Australian Ballet dancer Ella Havelka, Kayla-Rose’s journey is only just beginning.

Sand and Seas Dance fellow dancer Lolarose proudly resonates with Kayla-Rose. With cultural family dance and performance education from Thursday Island alongside a wealth of stage performance experience, the teenager was recently honoured as the ELLA Foundation Scholar, established by Havelka. A choreographer in the making, her initiative and drive has set her apart as an emerging talent.

Get to know how Kayla-Rose and Lolarose are shaping the next chapter of their dance journeys. Read the interview below.

Energetiks: How old were you when you began to dance?

Kayla-Rose Rocky: I was four years old when I began dancing with Miss Caitlin Sands!

Lolarose Lyons: I was 5 years old.

What styles of dance do you train in, and do you have a favourite?

KR: I train in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance with messages about my culture. My favourite style is ALL OF THEM!

LL: I study acro, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. I am also trained in cultural dance for Thursday Island through my family.

Can you share the story of how your dance journey began?

KR: My Aunty Tessa brought me along to Miss Caitlin's dance classes because her girls were doing it. I absolutely loved it. From there, I joined in the classes too. I enjoyed doing dance concerts and wearing dance costumes.

LL: Dance was offered at my school with Caitlin Sands. I loved it. I joined Caitlin's outside of school classes and loved being part of dance concerts. When I was ten years old, I was selected for the First Nations Dance Company with Creative Generation. I was the youngest dancer selected from hundreds of auditions. I was successfully selected the next year. In 2025, I choreographed the company and ensemble pieces for First Nations students, supported by my teacher Caitlin. I was twelve years old, teaching choreography to nearly one hundred school-aged First Nations dancers. It had great feedback. From there, my dance troupe in Cairns garnered more attention both locally and nationally. We have since performed at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics Civic Reception, for the Women In Sport Congress, for professional sporting games and more. I have also been selected as a featured dancer for 'Stories of Our Land' by the Youth Mill, a show that will go onstage in Brisbane and tour Vanuatu, PNG and New Zealand.

Can you share a little about your Indigenous heritage?

KR: I am an Aboriginal girl from a big family that come from Lockhart River. I have lots of brothers and sisters!

LL: I am proudly Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal. My Torres Strait Islander heritage heralds to 'Sen Pol' Moa Island, I was smoked into my Yidinji family through my grandfather/Yidinji Elder, 'Poppy' Jack Thomas. I incorporated my grandfather's artwork of Yidinji animals, Country and families for my choreography with Creative Generation.

What do you enjoy most about dancing at the Sand & Sea Dance?

KR: I really love dancing with my friends who are like me - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. We get to wear special paint and outfits to represent our culture. People love to watch us dance. People tell us our dancing makes them smile and cry at the same time!

LL: I enjoy being a role model for the younger dancers. I also enjoy the travelling we get to do through dance, gaining new experiences.

Kayla-Rose you were recently selected to participate in the Yurali Ballet Ensemble led by the Aboriginal ballerina Ella Havelka. Describe your experience whilst being a part of the Yurali Ballet Ensemble.

KR: At first, I was really nervous. I was going to a new studio in Sydney with new teachers. I was the youngest girl in the workshop and the only ballerina from Queensland. I felt excited and scared. Once I started doing the ballet training, I loved it. We got to do a performance to show what we learned, wearing red leotards, bracelets with black and white feathers and ballet shoes. I also got to see Bangarra and Australian Ballet's show 'Flora' with Yurali. We even got to see the dancers warming up backstage before the show thanks to Miss Ella!

What's something you learnt from Ella Havelka and her workshop Kayla-Rose?

KR: I learned about Ella's life and her Wiradjuri culture. She taught us Wiradjuri stories about Country and swans. We did a ballet performance that was about 'Swan Lake' mixed in with Wiradjuri stories about black swans. We got to make our own bracelets with feathers that represented the swans.

You've been lucky enough to perform at the Brisbane Olympics, NBL, NBLW and AFLW. What has been your most proudest achievement to date Kayla-Rose?

KR: I have felt proud to dance at so many events with Sand & Sea dance. My favourite place to perform is for the NBL and NBLW with the Cairns Taipans and Cairns Dolphins. It is so fun and the crowd is amazing.

Congratulations Lolarose! You were recently selected as the 2026 winner of The ELLA Foundation scholarship through Aboriginal ballerina Ella Havelka. What does this scholarship mean to you?

LL: This scholarship relieves the financial burdens of dance classes on my large family, so I can continue to embrace my dreams and culture. I had to take a zoom call with Ella Havelka prior to gaining the scholarship, which taught me more skills.

Lolarose you’re currently working on First Nations dance pieces alongside your dance teacher Caitlin. What stories or themes are you aiming to express through these works?

LL: We love to use movements that show water, representing Torres Strait Islander heritage. We show connection to land and animals, also representing togetherness, family and unity.

Lolarose you’ve been lucky enough to perform in CGEN, National Nurses Forum, Big Talk One Fire festival, 2023 Brisbane Olympics Civic Reception, NBL Indigenous Round and the Cairns Regional Citizen's Awards. What has been your most proudest achievement to date?

LL: My favourite memory was being the junior choreographer for Creative Generation at 12 years old. It was a big responsibility, but we achieved all of our visions and goals for those dance pieces.

What goals or aspirations do you have for the future?

KR: I would like to be a professional dancer in Sydney or Brisbane! I would like to dance with Bangarra, Australian or Queensland Ballet.

LL: I am very keen on pathways towards working as a professional First Nations dancer, such as maybe joining Bangarra Dance Theatre.

How has dance shaped you both as individuals?

KR: Dance has made me feel more confident, helped me to make friends and makes me feel proud to be Aboriginal. I connect to my culture through music and dance.

LL: Dance has made me more confident, and helped me to become a leader and role model to younger students. It also strengthens my connection to culture.

If there was anything else you wished to mention, we’d love to know!

KR: I love to sing! My favourite treat is caramello koalas. My dance teacher keeps some in her bag for when I need to be brave for dancing in Sydney and Brisbane.

LL: My Aboriginal name is 'Burimimi' which means 'Little Fire Spark', given to me by my grandfather. I believe you can see what he means when I dance!

Let's end on a fun one! What's your favourite dance movie or performer and why?

KR: My favourite singer is Taylor Swift. I love her shows and music videos because she uses all different dancers. Some of the dancers even look like me!

LL: My favourite performer is Royston Noell, I love his ballads like 'Dreaming' or 'Invincible'. I have even been his back-up dancer for Creative Generation and also the 'Big Talk One Fire' festival in Gimuy / Cairns.

We know this is just the beginning for Kayla-Rose and Lolarose and look forward to seeing their dance journey progress.

Follow their story on Instagram

Acknowledgement of Country

Energetiks acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to country and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sources:

The ELLA Foundation

Image courtesy of @cairnscouncil @amyedencairns

Kayla-Rose Rocky of Yurali Dance Ensemble and ELLA Foundation Scholar Lolarose Lyons | A Journey Through Dance