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Outback Teen Achieves European Ballet Dream
2 Aug
Summary
- Sixteen-year-old Maddy Murphy will train at prestigious Tanz Akademie Zurich.
- She moved over 1,600 km from her hometown for ballet training.
- Maddy secured a place through a scholarship after international competition.

Maddy Murphy, a 16-year-old from Julia Creek, Queensland, is set to travel nearly 15,000 kilometers to Switzerland for professional ballet training. She has secured a coveted spot at the prestigious Tanz Akademie Zurich. This achievement is the culmination of a lifelong passion that began at age five.
Her journey involved significant sacrifices, including moving over 1,600 kilometers to Brisbane at age 11 to attend boarding school and train at Prima Youth Ballet Academy. Maddy later transitioned to full-time ballet training while completing her studies through distance education, a demanding routine that required immense discipline.
Following the closure of her academy in early 2025, Maddy relocated to Sydney to continue her training and studies. Her dedication led to a breakthrough when she competed in the Brisbane International Contemporary Dance Prix, earning a scholarship. This enabled her to audition for Tanz Akademie Zurich, securing one of approximately 22 places available.