Hannah O'Neill

Hannah O'Neill (born January 8, 1993) is a New Zealand ballet dancer who is an étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet.

Early life O'Neill was born in Japan to a Japanese mother, Sumie, and a New Zealand father, Chris, a professional rugby player. She has two younger brothers. O'Neill started dancing when she was three years old.

From 1998 to 2007, O'Neill studied at the Kishibe Ballet Studio in Tokyo, Japan. When she turned eight, she moved with her family to Auckland, New Zealand. In 2011 she graduated as dux of the ballet school. Consequently, since 1 January 2016 she danced as a premiere danseuse, the second highest rank in the company.

In spring 2015, O'Neill danced the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake which is normally reserved for étoiles.

In March 2023, O'Neill was promoted to the rank of danseuse étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet.

Repertoire Odile-Odette in Swan Lake Giselle, Myrtha in Giselle Gamzatti in La Bayadère Paquita in Paquita Ballet Imperial The Sylph, Effie in La Sylphide Titania in Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream The Lady of the Camellias Ballet Imperial Carmen in Roland Petit's Carmen M in Mats Ek's Carmen

Awards O'Neill was the winner of the Prix de Lausanne in 2009 and of the Youth America Grand Prix in 2010. In 2014, she won the silver medal at Varna International Ballet Competition, the oldest and one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world.