When Dimity Azoury was a little girl, she used to look at a photo of Marilyn Rowe, Australia's first Prima Ballerina, and dream of one day being like her.
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The Queanbeyan-born dancer is now well on her way, as the most recent winner of the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, one of Australia's most prestigious ballet prize.
Azoury beat five finalists for the $20,000 cash prize, announced on stage at the Sydney Opera House after the Australian Ballet's final dress rehearsal for The Nutcracker on Thursday night.
She said she was stunned when she heard her name called out, and couldn't stop shaking.
"We were nominated by previous Telstra winners and also the principal dancers of the company, which is just lovely, because they're my inspiration every day," she said.
"The recognition is the most special thing of all, because we've been watched this year and you had to write an essay about yourself, which is the hardest thing in the world to do."
The award was judged by a panel that included TV presenter Livinia Nixon and Australian Ballet artistic director David McAllister.
"Dimity's dedication and passion maker her the perfect overall package," McAllister said.
Perth's Imogen Chapman won the Telstra People's Choice Award, worth $5000.
Azoury said although she had been dancing most of her life – she began at the age of 4 and joined the Australian Ballet in 2008 – at just 26 she is still fit and ever more ready to take on any challenges that are thrown at her.
"My body and I are still fine, so I'm not anticipating that I'm nearing the end of my career or anything," she said.
"I'm old enough that I'm comfortable in the company now and I'm feeling stronger and more ready to take on things, but I'm still young enough that it's not too strenuous on the body."
She said she had no aspirations to move on from the Australian Ballet in the near future.
"My heart is with the Australian Ballet, I absolutely love the company and the people, that's very important to me, the environment that I work in," she said.
"I absolutely love being here and working with these guys and the thing is that I love contemporary dance and I love classical dance, so we have such a varied repertoire here so I'm very happy."
She is also married to fellow dancer Rudy Hawkes, and the two have a "beautiful little cottage in North Melbourne that needs some work", which is where the $20,000 will come in handy.
She said although she had never aspired to any particular roles on stage, she would love to eventually become a principal dancer.
"Obviously, it's something that most little girls dream of but it's not something I can say or want to say out loud, but I think what I'd like to say is I hope to be good enough to become a principal dancer one day, and I'd love to do those roles, that's something of course I'd aspire to."
"I love the big dramatic, classical roles. Not any in particular, just all of them."
