West Australian Ballet’s new Artistic Director, Leanne Stojmenov, can pinpoint the moment she knew ballet would be her life. “I went to one class and was absolutely sold. It sounds a bit crazy that you have this vision and this clarity at the age of four, but I absolutely knew.”

She remained steadfast in her vision. Stojmenov is now 44, so you could say her new appointment at WAB has been 40 years in the making. No wonder she’s ready.

Leanne Stojmenov. Photo © Shot By Thom

“It has always been a massive passion that’s kept me going; this massive drive in me,” she says.

Born in Perth, Stojmenov had another epiphany at 17. She was thinking of heading for Europe to try her luck when she auditioned for WAB “just for experience”. The then Artistic Director, Ted Brandsen, who now leads Dutch National Ballet, offered her a job. She thought she’d be mad not to take it.

As she stepped through the WAB doors to start her professional life, it occurred to her that perhaps one day she’d like to direct the company.