Davi Ramos Becomes The Australian Ballet's First Black Principal Artist

Davi Ramos has made history by being elevated to the position of principal artist at The Australian Ballet, marking him as the first Black principal in the organization’s history. The Brazilian dancer commenced his training at the age of 12 and achieved the highest rank within a dozen years. His journey began when his mother enrolled him in a local school, where he was mentored by Lorena Boaventura. Despite facing financial challenges, the institution offered complimentary shoes and training. At 13, he participated in company-level classes in Rio, and by 14, he reached the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix in 2014, earning a scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre's school. He later received a full scholarship from Christopher Powney to The Royal Ballet School. Ramos joined The Australian Ballet under David Hallberg, and his promotion came after his role in Romeo and Juliet.