Meet Our People: Tabitha

TABITHA DOMBROSKI | DANCER

Ballet - I love ballet because of the discipline and the constant strive for perfection. It pushes you to the limit physically and mentally; it takes years and years of practice to reach that effortless movement quality and freedom. But mostly I love the people you to meet and the places it takes you.

Collect(ive) - I always end up collecting jars wherever I go. I always fit as much kiwi peanut butter (Pics and Fix n Fogg) as I can into my suitcase. I always get my mum to send me some and when I get visitors they bring me some ha ha! Then I wash and keep the jars to store nuts, seeds and tea!

Aotearoa - My favourite city is Queenstown, for its picture-perfect scenery and all the adrenaline-pumping activities (I've bungy jumped twice!) Another favourite place is Mt Taranaki; it has such a good energy surrounding it. Climbing it is very hard but it's also the most rewarding thing.

Home - I am from New Plymouth, but grew up in Wellington. My maunga is Taranaki and my awa is the Waiwhakaiho.

Training - I started my training at Extreme Dance, and I moved to Paula Hunt (at the age of 10) when I decided to ballet seriously. I was part of the Scholars and Associates programmes at the New Zealand School of Dance, which led me to train there full timed complete my certificate. I finished my training in Germany at the John Cranko School, because I wanted to push myself and to explore the dance world in Europe; that is my dream.

Highlights - My biggest career highlight is having three of my own choreographies performed at the Stuttgart Opera House. I was the first student to have a choreography performed in ten years, and the first student ever to have three!

Favourite Jam - My favourite jam is Black Doris Plum jam! It's soooo good, especially on fresh homemade scones :)

Photography: Sarah Davies, Sarah Kaye Photography