Q&A
When did you start dancing?
At 8 years old.
Why did you start dancing?
I was encouraged to dance by my Grade 1 primary school teacher. She saw something within me which I didn't even know existed. I thank her for where I am today.
Which dancer inspired you most as a child?
I loved the old dance musicals of a bygone era: Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire… charisma for days.
Which dancer do you most admire?
My friends and colleagues who I work with inspire me on a daily basis.
What's your favourite role?
Prince Siegfried in Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake… Closely followed by Des Grieux and Onegin.
What role have you never played but would like to?
Armand in Neumeier's Lady of the Camellias.
What's your favourite ballet to watch?
Balanchine's Serenade to name just one. Different dancers can bring something unique to every ballet, so it depends on the dancer.
Who is your favourite choreographer?
MacMillan, Balanchine, Murphy.
Who is your favourite writer?
Rohinton Mistry, Yann Martel, Ian McEwan, Tim Winton.
Who is your favourite director?
Wes Anderson, PJ Hogan.
Who is your favourite actor?
Cate Blanchett.
Who is your favourite singer?
Matt Corby, Beyoncé.
What is your favourite book?
A Fine Balance.
What is your favourite film?
Life is Beautiful, Muriel's Wedding.
Which is your favourite city?
Melbourne.. best coffee in the world! Manly beach in Sydney.
What do you like most about yourself?
The ability to laugh at myself.
What do you dislike about yourself?
My inability to share something I like.
What was your proudest moment?
When I know my family are in the audience.
When and where were you happiest?
Having a coffee overlooking the ocean at Manly beach after having had a swim with the sun peering through the clouds.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My partner and family.
What is your greatest fear?
Failure.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To pick up exercises at the barre; I'm easily distracted!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Having a successful career in a profession which I adore.
What is your most treasured possession?
My Audi.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Adventure travel: Antarctica was the pinnacle; a lifelong dream fulfilled.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
That wealth gives you happiness.
On what occasion do you lie?
I always try to be true to myself and lead by example.
If you hadn't been a dancer what would you have liked to be?
A travel reporter.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My height – 6'4″ – and curly hair.
What quality do you most value in a friend?
Loyalty and laughter.
What quality do you most value in a colleague?
Trust and generosity.
Which historical figure do you most admire?
Sir Douglas Mawson, the Australian Antarctic Explorer.
Which living person do you most admire?
Everyone has qualities to admire and learn from.
What do you most dislike?
Arrogance and greed.
What talent would you most like to have?
To sing and play the piano.
How would you like to die?
Without pain.
What's your motto?
“Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Adam Bull – a biography
Adam Bull was born in 1981 and began training at Dance World 301 with Brian Nolan before joining The Australian Ballet School. In 2000, he represented Australia in the Paris International Ballet Competition, before graduating from The Australian Ballet School with honours in 2001.
Adam joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, going on to dance principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Graeme Murphy, Christopher Wheeldon, Stephen Baynes, Stanton Welch, Nicolo Fonte and Wayne McGregor. After just six months as a senior artist, Adam was promoted to the highest rank of principal in June 2008, capping off a string of critically acclaimed lead performances.
Performances in principal lead roles in the company's tours to Paris, London, Manchester, Japan and New York have been career highlights.
“Tender and self-deprecating … a true danseur noble”
The Observer, UK
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
Why is Australia so far away 🙁