Suffolk-born Royal Ballet star Gary Avis may perform at venues all around the world but family is never far away.

East Anglian Daily Times: Royal Ballet star Gary Avis with dancers from Ipswich, Australia who were taking part in a workshop run by Gary and the Royal Ballet.. Photo: GARY AVISRoyal Ballet star Gary Avis with dancers from Ipswich, Australia who were taking part in a workshop run by Gary and the Royal Ballet.. Photo: GARY AVIS (Image: Archant)

While taking part in a two week residency at Queensland Performing Arts Centre he met up with second cousins Graham and Maureen Millen who lived in Ipswich before moving to Australia. They drove to Brisbane to see Gary dance in Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works, a role which was created for him.

In addition to Woolf Works, The Royal Ballet will also be performing Christopher Wheeldon’s production of The Winter’s Tale, which opens on Wednesday July 5. This is the first time that The Royal Ballet has performed these works outside of Covent Garden.

Gary has also been taking part in dance workshops as part of the two week residency which has brought in young dancers from across Queensland – including a group from Ipswich, Australia.

The programme called We All Dance includes workshops, masterclasses, online activities, performances and community building initiatives. The workshops explore a wide range of dance styles and themes using The Winter’s Tale as inspiration.