LISA-MAREE CULLUM

LISA-MAREE CULLUM

Lisa-Maree Cullum was born in New Zealand and trained with her mother from the age of four years before moving to Sydney to start her full-time training with Tanya Pearson OAM.

Later that year she won the gold medal in the Royal Academy`s Adeline Genee Awards followed by winning at the Prix de Lausanne. This enabled her to continue her studies at the prestigious Academie de danse Princesse Grace in Monaco, under the guidance of Madame Marika Besobrasova.

Lisa-Maree’s professional ballet career started at the English National Ballet. The following year, she accepted Peter Schaufuss´s invitation, to join the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Germany. Only two months later, Schaufuss entrusted her with the lead role in the world premiere of his Giselle. Shortly after she was promoted to principal dancer.

Ivan Liška offered Lisa-Maree a principal contract with the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany, where she danced until 2015.

In 1998, Lisa-Maree was acclaimed Dancer of the Year by a leading Munich newspaper. She was nominated for the Prix Benois de la danse in Moskau 2002 and she was acclaimed Dancer of the Year 2002 for her outstanding interpretation of the lead role in Sleeping Beauty with the Ballet of the Opera of Rome. She has appeared as a guest dancer on stages worldwide, like the Mariinsky Theatre St Petersburg, Imperial Ballet Moscow, Teatro alla Scala Milano, Teatro dell`Opera di Roma, National Theatre Prag, Royal Swedish Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Queensland Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet to name a few.

In 2008 Lisa-Maree was awarded the highest honorary title ‘Kammertänzerin’ by the German government for her contribution as a world class artist.

Since retiring from the stage Lisa-Maree has taken on the role as a teacher and mentor, passing on her knowledge and experience to present and future generations.

In 2015 she was invited to be a Jury Member of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne.

Lisa-Maree has been the Associate Artistic Director and teacher at the Bavaria Ballet Academy (BBA) and worked frequently as guest for prestigious international schools and companies throughout the world.

Since 2024 Lisa-Maree Cullum is the new Artistic Director at the Tanya Pearson Academy.

Lisa Maree is looking forward to her role in preparing and guiding future generations of young artists.

“I am delighted to be joining the TPA family and feel inspired to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of dancers, providing them with the tools and empowerment to follow their artistic vision.” Lisa-Maree Cullum

Lisa-Maree’s appointment presents a wonderful opportunity for the Academy and its students to further continue the legacy of the TPA and its reputation for excellence in Dance Education.

“Lisa-Maree is one of TPA’s finest success stories. The training that she received at this very school set her up for an illustrious international career, and her return to where it all began, coupled with her willingness to share her depth of knowledge and experience with the next generation of young dancers, is incredibly exciting for everyone involved.”  Gregor Thieler

HONORARY TITLE

“Kammertänzerin”
Highest Honorary Title presented by the ministry
of culture for a distinguished female ballet
dancer in Germany.

COMPANIES

1998 – 2015
Bavarian State Ballet Munich, Germany
Soloist-Principal

1990 – 1998
Deutsche Opera Berlin, Germany
Corps-Soloist-Principal

1989 – 1990
English National Ballet
Corps de Ballet

WORKED INTENSIVELY WITH

Reid Anderson, Ray Barra, Sylviane Bayard,
Maurice Bejart, Dina Björn, Paul Chalmer,
Richard Cragun, Nacho Duato, Eva Evdokimova,
William Forsyth, Carla Fracci, Marcia Haydée,
Irina Jacobson, Sherilyn Kennedy, Ivan Liška,
Natalia Makarova, Hans van Manen, Patricia Neary,
John Neumeier, Peter Schaufuss,
Dame Antoinette Sibley, Sir Peter Wright

AWARDS

Prix de Lausanne Prize winner 1988
Adeline Genee Award Gold Medal 1988
John Logan Campbell Award winner 1989
Leonide Massine Award Positano 1995
Outstanding Dancer Ballet International 1998
Star of the year Abendzeitung Munich 1998
Star of the week Abendzeitung Munich Oct. 2000
Munich Merkur Theater Prize Nominee 2001
Dancer of the Year 2002
Prix de Benois de la Danse Nominee 2002