Past Event

Why Diversity Matters?

Samuel Akins is a professional ballet dancer from Birmingham, Alabama. At
seven years old he began his training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and
later enrolled as a full-time student at age 12. At 13 Akins was named a National
Training Scholar with the American Ballet Theater and moved to New York at 14
was awarded a full scholarship to continue his training with the School of
American Ballet. During his time at the School, Akins had various performance
opportunities with the School and the New York City Ballet.

At 18 Akins joined the Los Angeles Ballet where he danced for four seasons.
While in LA he performed a number of ballets in the company’s repertory. Akins
later joined the Alabama Ballet and performed Principal roles with the company
in productions of The Sleeping Beauty, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,
and originated lead roles in three world premiere contemporary works.

Akins moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2018 to continue his dance career. The
same year, he joined the faculty of the Melbourne Academy of the Arts. In 2021
Akins co-founded the advocacy organization “Diverse Dancers Australia”.
Currently, Akins is dancing with ‘L’Opera National de Paris’ (The Paris Opera
Ballet) where he started his position in 2021. Akins has danced in a revival of
Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, Nureyev’s La Bayadere, Le Lac des Cygnes,
and Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Who Cares .

Lecture content will be recorded, but not Q&A and discussion time

Online | Monday, 7 August 5PM AEST

ASPAH Member – $15.00
Non ASPAH Member – $25.00