Jarryd Madden and Dimity Azoury continue their rise through to the ranks of the Australian Ballet with a new promotion from soloist to senior artist.

Jarryd Madden dancing with Leanne Stojmenov in Nutcracker – The Story of Clara. Photograph © Daniel Boud

They are currently performing in the Australian Ballet’s 25th anniversary production of Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker – The Story of Clara playing at the Sydney Opera House. (Read Limelight’s four-star review here.) On opening night, Madden made his mark in the production as the Nutcracker Prince, dancing a stunning Act II pas de deux with Leanne Stojmenov as Clara, while Azoury appeared as one of Clara’s friends. They also take on the lead roles of Clara and her soldier lover at certain performances. Their promotion came after they co-starred at last Saturday’s matinee. They are scheduled to dance the lead roles again tonight and on May 11 and May 15 (unless the dancers are on strike).

Both dancers joined the AB in 2008 and became soloists in 2015. Azoury won the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award in 2014, having also been a nominee in 2012. Madden...