Kate Kadow

Florida-born Principal Kate Kadow, who joined the RNZB in January 2018, leaves to pursue new opportunities overseas.

Kate’s principal roles have included Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty (2020), Giselle (2021), Paquita Act III (2021), Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (2023), Odette/Odile in Swan Lake (2024), the title role and Neve in The Firebird (2025) and Titania and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2024). She is currently appearing as both the Sugar Plum Fairy and Pōhutukawa, a role she originated, in The Nutcracker. Kate’s highlights in contemporary works with the RNZB include Wayne McGregor’s Infra (2024), Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain pas de deux (2022), RNZB Resident Choreographer Shaun James Kelly’s Chrysalis (2025), George Balanchine’s Serenade (2019, 2023) and Divertimento No. 15 (2018), William Forsythe’s Artifact II (2019) and Twyla Tharp’s Waterbaby Bagatelles™ (2022). 

Luke Cooper

Artist Luke Cooper (Te Arawa), a graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, joined the RNZB as the Todd Scholar in 2018.

Highlights for Luke include dancing with Sir Jon Trimmer in Loughlan Prior’s The Long and Short of It (2018), the Transformed Witch in Hansel and Gretel (2019, 2023), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Requiem for a Rose (2023), Wayne McGregor’s Infra (2024), Sarah Foster Sproull’s To Hold (2024), Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2024) and dancing in Russell Kerr’s Swan Lake in 2024, having been a child extra in 2013. Luke has also been a leader in the RNZB’s Te Ao Māori learning journey, leading the haka in Moss Te Ururangi Patterson’s Hine (2019) and Te Ao Mārama (2023), including at the DanceX festival in Melbourne this year.

Luke is retiring from full time dance. 

Calum Gray

Artist Calum Gray, also a graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, joined the RNZB in 2019.

His recent leading roles include Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (2023), Bottom and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2024), the Pas de Trois in Swan Lake (2024), Arrow in The Firebird (2025) and the Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker (2025), as well as solo roles in Alice Topp’s Logos (2023), Wayne McGregor’s Infra (2024), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Requiem for a Rose (2023), and Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain. Calum has also served his colleagues as the RNZB’s E tū union representative.

He leaves the RNZB to join Scottish Ballet. 

Hilary An-Roddie

Following a secondment to the Company for Swan Lake in 2024, Hilary An-Roddie joined the RNZB from the New Zealand School of Dance at the beginning of 2025, as our RNZB Foundation Scholar.

Hilary has performed in My Brilliant Career, The Firebird, RNZB Education’s Ballet Zoo and in multiple roles in The Nutcracker. She also demonstrated her talent for choreography, creating a pas de deux for the Voyages choreographic workshop.

Hilary will continue to pursue dancing opportunities overseas. 

Lyn Lin

Lyn Lin joins us as our 2026 Todd Scholar. Lyn grew up in Auckland, undertaking her early training at Mt Eden Ballet Academy, and has just completed her second year at the New Zealand School of Dance.

Lyn is currently seconded to the RNZB for The Nutcracker. 

Breyah Takitimu

Breyah Takitimu (Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Porou) joins us as one of two 2026 Friedlander Foundation Scholars. Breyah grew up in Invercargill before moving to Christchurch to train with Canterbury Ballet. She spent two years in Chicago at the Joffrey Ballet Academy before returning to New Zealand upon graduation and is currently dancing in The Nutcracker as a guest dancer. 

Charlotte Willis

Charlotte Willis is our second 2026 Friedlander Foundation Scholar. Charlotte grew up in Wellington, receiving her early training at Chilton Ballet Academy, and is about to graduate from the New Zealand School of Dance.

She has previously been seconded to the RNZB for Swan Lake (2024) and is currently with us for The Nutcracker. 

Padraic Lum

Padraic (Paddy) Lum was born in Sydney, Australia. He began his ballet training at The McDonald College in Sydney but relocated to Melbourne in 2020 after being accepted into The Australian Ballet School. Paddy has been fortunate to go on National Tour with The Australian Ballet in 2024 & 2025 performing renowned works like George Balachine’s Allegro Brilliante, Sleeping Beauty Act III and The Nutcracker Act II.   

Ethan Dwyer

Ethan grew up in Mildura, Australia and started dance at age 10. He moved to Melbourne in 2021 where he studied at The Jane Moore Academy of Ballet before joining The Australian Ballet School at Level 6 in 2023. In his graduate year at the school, Ethan has thoroughly enjoyed performing works like George Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony and being part of The Australian Ballet’s National Tour.