Abigail Boyle

Senior Classical Tutor

R.A.D Reg. Teacher Status

Abigail Boyle was born and trained in New Zealand, joining the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2006. She has received acclaim for her performances in both classical and contemporary works and inspired many choreographers to create roles especially for her.

During her time with RNZB, Abigail danced soloist and principal roles and was appointed Ballet Mistress for Tutus on Tour 2017. In addition to Ballet, Abigail starred in the TV series ‘Secret Lives of Dancers’, Toa Fraser’s ‘Giselle’ (2013), and ‘The Heart Dancers’, a documentary film concerning the development of the making of The Piano: The Ballet, by Rebecca Tansley (2018).

Abigail is celebrated as “one of New Zealand’s finest stage artists of recent years” recognised for her authentic, honest, fluid, and expressive style.

Abigail’s principal roles include Carmen in Didy Veldman’s Carmen, Odette/Odile in Russell Kerr’s Swan Lake, Aurora in Greg Horsman’s The Sleeping Beauty, Myrtha in Ethan Stiefel, and Johan Kobborg’s Giselle and Ada in Jiří Bubeníček The Piano: The Ballet.

Her final ballet, Artemis Rising, was written as a celebration of her career. Critics acclaimed her “power, sensitivity and effortless grace”, concluding that “Boyle is emerging from a remarkable thirteen-year career with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, a woman and an artist in ascension”.

Following retirement in early 2019, Abigail completed the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance and founded her own ballet coaching company, Abigail Dance Coaching (www.abigaildance.co.nz). From her company, Abigail is delighted to share her knowledge and experience working with established ballet schools and individual students, to inspire, motivate, and develop New Zealand’s emerging ballet talent.

2021 will see Abigail take up the role of Ballet Mistress for the New Zealand Youth Ballet Co. located in Christchurch.