Steven McRae

Steven McRae is an Australian ballet dancer and tap dancer. He is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, England.

Early life and education Steven McRae was raised in the western Sydney suburb of Plumpton, the son of a drag racer. He started dancing at age seven, after watching his older sister in her dance classes. He studied tap as well as ballet. The Guardian has called McRae "a modern-day Fred Astaire".

In 2014, he was named "Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK" for his work with the Royal Ballet.

He works still with Lesley Collier, a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet from 1972 to 1995 and répétiteur since 2000, as his coach at the Royal Ballet. McRae's most marked characteristics have been noted as his speed and his red hair.

First principal role In 2005, in his first season with the Royal Ballet, McRae danced Symphonic Variations by Frederick Ashton.

Original roles In 2011, McRae originated the role of the Mad Hatter in Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House.

In 2016, McRae originated the role of "The Creature" in Liam Scarlett's full-length ballet of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

"There is a moment before Steven McRae steps on stage that you easily can mistake for nerves and he has learnt over the years that it's not nerves, it's adrenaline and a slight sense of anxiety. It's almost impossible to dance as a soloist without this performance element."

He is frequently used in works from Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor such as Chroma, Multiverse, and Limen, as he is very quick in picking up on McGregor's modern style as well as the way he can manipulate his body.

Injuries In January 2008, at 22, McRae partially tore his Achilles tendon and was told that not only would he never dance again but he would have an enduring limp. He found "a most incredible" Swedish surgeon and it took a year, until December 2008, to recover. He started rehabilitation classes with his coach, Lesley Collier, and psychological rehabilitation, and studied for a BA Hons in business management and leadership. McRae completed his university degree while working full time.

During a live performance in October 2019, McRae again tore his Achiles tendon; he returned to performing in October 2021.

Film work McRae plays Skimbleshanks the railway cat in the 2019 film adaptation of Cats. His Achilles tendon injury was discussed in the BBC programme Men at the Barre.

The film Dancing Back to the Light summarises his professional and personal life, including excerpts from several of his significant performances. (Broadcast on BBC Two 14 March 2025, and on BBC iPlayer).

Personal life McRae is married to Elizabeth Harrod, soloist with the Royal Ballet, and they have children.

Repertory

The Tales of Beatrix Potter : Squirrel Nutkin Alice's Adventures in Wonderland : Magician/Mad Hatter Sweet Violets : Jack Hansel and Gretel : Sandman Frankenstein : Creature Swan Lake : Siegfried Giselle : Albrecht Romeo and Juliet : Romeo Manon : Des Grieux The Sleeping Beauty : Prince Florimund Mayerling : Crown Prince Rudolf The Nutcracker : Sugar Plum Fairy's Cavalier

Awards 2002 : Genée International Ballet Competition, Gold Medal 2003 : Prix de Lausanne 2007 : Emerging Male Artist (Classical) 2012 : Best Male Dancer Awards at the Critics' Circle Dance Awards 2014 : Young Australian Achiever in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation