Jiayin Du was born in Liaoning Province in China and began his dance training with Vaganova Ballet Methods at School of Dance affiliated to Shenyang Conservatorium of Music. In 1996, Jiayin was selected by then China’s Ministry of Arts to attend 7th Paris International Ballet Competition. In 1997, Jiayin took China and Tokyo by storm winning First Prize/Gold Medal in two competitions: 5th Taoli Cup Dance Competition (China National Ballet Competition hosted by China’s Ministry of Arts open for professional full-time candidates only) and 6th Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition. Subsequently, he was matriculated by higher education at College of Dance, Shenyang Conservatorium of Music, and in the meantime was offered soloist straightway at Liaoning Ballet Theater, no sooner before he received scholarships from the Australian Ballet (Gary Norman Scholarship) offered by one of the adjudicators in Tokyo, Ms Gailene Stock CBE AM,then Director of The Australian Ballet School, together with The Tsinforn C. Wong Memorial Scholarship (offered by Jean Wong Ballet School in Hong Kong) for his further study at the Australian Ballet School.
In 1999, Jiayin arrived in Melbourne and studied at the Australian Ballet School’s graduation year. “In all my years with The Australian Ballet School, I’ve never seen a bigger stir caused by a student than that, caused by as student. There were full of people in the corridor watching Jiayin doing exercises, and they’d never seen such perfect feet and legs.” Described by Mr Dale Baker, then Balletmaster and Level 8 Classical Ballet Teacher of The Australian Ballet School, on Jiayin’s first day with The Australian Ballet School. After graduating with honor diploma, Jiayin joined the Australian Ballet Company and this marked the beginning his diverse and lasting relationship with the company. His career began under the directorship of Ross Stretton and concluded under David McAllister AM’s artistic direction.
As a talented artist with strong abilities in ballet, Jiayin performed many soloist and leading roles in major classical ballets since he joined the company, such as Don Quixote, Coppélia, La Bayadere, La Sylphide, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Raymonda, Merry Widow, La Fille Mal Gardee, Manon and Three Musketeers, amongst which his highlights have been showpiece pas de deux such as Flower Festival of Genzano, La Favorita, Paquita, Flames of Paris and Grand Pas Classique. Jiayin also danced in many modern/contemporary production and one act repertoire including Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, Symphony in C, et al; Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries; Jerome Robbins’ Le Concert, Other Dances; Jiří Kylián’s Stepping Stones; William Forsythe’s The Vertiginious Thrill of Exactitude; Stanton Welch’s Divergence, Velocity, Madame Butterfly; Krzysztof Pastor’s Symphonie Fantastique; Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero; Natalie Weir’s Mirror Mirror; Serge Lifar’s Suite en Blanc; Harald Lander Études, Léonide Massine’s Les Presages, Nicolo Fonte’s Almost Tango, Stephen Baynes’ Beyond Bach, etc.
During his 11 years dancer’s career, Jiayin toured with The Australian Ballet to major cities in Asia Pacific and danced in the premium theatres and stages, such as Arts Centre of Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Palais Garnier at Opéra national de Paris, The London Coliseum, Shanghai Grand Theatre,etc. Jiayin was also invited as Principal Guest Artist for the Australian Ballet’s Dancers’ Company, Liaoning Ballet Theater Gala Performance, and the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet. Jiayin’s interest and experience in ballet teaching originated from 2008 when he was still a dancer started teaching for The Australian Ballet’s Open Class programs at Sydney Opera House from time to time. After Jiayin’s retirement from the stage in 2011, he established his own dance academy and deliver classes in renowned ballet studios and competitions. In Jan.2015, Jiayin was recruited to the Australian Ballet School as Classical Ballet Teacher, where he served for entire seven years with dedication, perspiration, inspiration, responsibility, love, pride, honor, especially the giving back to where he used to receive scholarship, and of course satisfaction on his students’ graduation with completion of years’ study, until Jan.2022. During his tenure, Jiayin taught professional ballet students across all levels in terms of classical studies, pas de deux, variation; and was especially responsible for Level 4 & 6 Male Class students’ reports, exams of their major ballet subjects including VCE Dance; supervised rehearsals for performances such as every year’s Morning Melodies and Annual Showcase; and was appointed to teach The Australian Ballet School Open Masterclass in both Melbourne campus and interstates. With approval from ABS Director, Jiayin also delivered masterclasses and adjudications to various ballet events, including Ballet Teachers Workshop Inc, Gold Coast International Dance Master Workshop, Xiamen International Ballet Competition, etc. In 2017, Jiayin was also appointed by The Australian Ballet School to carry out a series of activities of the study exchange program between ABS and Shanghai Dance School affiliated to Shanghai Theatre Academy, including hospitality, communication, and attending ceremony of Australia-China Ballet Friendship Bridge at China Culture Centre in Sydney (China’s Ministry of Arts’ overseas agency) where he affirmed that ballet education exchange is meaningful to next generation, is positively supported by political, arts, education and charity leaders, and devoting himself in such education exchange work is a giving back to ballet education from himself 20 years after receiving such benefit from the overseas study experience. In 2019, Jiayin completed his Graduate Diploma of Elite Dance Instruction, which is the highest level of ballet teaching accredited by the industry with a comprehensive knowledge and a strong focus on the methodology of vocational dance training, based on an eight-level system derived from the Vaganova method.
The patronage of Jiayin Du to Melbourne Academy of the Arts dates back to 2011. Since then, Jiayin has witnessed many MAARTS students and graduates growing up from early age with the beautiful journey of ballet with impressive achievements of their personal best. With all his dancing and teaching experiences, Jiayin has continued extending his knowledge and expertise to the next generation in classical ballet teaching and coaching. With unswerving passion in ballet and positive attitude to keep learning, in 2016 Jiayin’s choreographing debut was for the movie The Longest Shot, and this ability of synergy is always about to develop and explore.
