Ballet Trove was born from my belief that art, when distilled to its essence, has the power to shape how we live, learn, and connect.
I am Renata Ogayar (BM, MIR, B.A, AdvDip), an international dance journalist, arts advocate, and business strategist, and Ballet Trove sits at the intersection of my lifelong relationship with movement, culture, wellbeing, and meaning.
My journey began with full-time dance training in Sydney, before receiving a scholarship to continue my studies at the Palucca University of Dance in Dresden, Germany. Alongside my own training, I worked in marketing at Sydney Dance Company during the appointment of Rafael Bonachela, and I have taught dance across Sydney, Byron Bay, Guatemala, and with orphaned children in Brazil—experiences that profoundly shaped my understanding of dance as both discipline, language and the impact movement has on lives.
As an international dance journalist working across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK, I have interviewed many of the world’s most respected industry leaders, artists and organisations. These include The American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, English National Ballet, LA Dance Project, Disney Theatrical Productions, and others. Through this work, I have been privileged to witness the power of artistic excellence and human expression at the highest level.
At heart, I am a global citizen. I believe art is not ornamental—it is essential. When children are exposed to beauty, creativity, and expression early in life, they grow into grounded, confident, and curious humans.
Ballet Trove exists to support children and families by encouraging slower moments, imaginative play, embodied learning, and a deeper relationship with movement and self-expression. It is about creating space—space to move, to wonder, and to simply be.
My storytelling experience extends beyond print into film and television, with credits across major Australian and international productions including Peter Rabbit, 2040, Deadline Gallipoli, Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home, Janet King, and House of Hancock, as well as global broadcasts such as World News SBS, the FIFA World Cup Brazil, and Eurovision. I have delivered creative and editorial work for organisations including NBCUniversal, Netflix, Foxtel, Sony, ABC, SBS, and Australia’s major television networks. This background informs Ballet Trove’s cinematic sensibility and magical-driven approach.
With a foundation in dance and arts management, alongside studies in neuroscience, positive psychology, and wellbeing science, I am deeply passionate about integrating movement and wellbeing into everyday life—particularly during childhood. I believe movement is not merely physical; it is emotional, cognitive, and social. Ballet Trove reflects this belief by honouring dance not simply as performance, but as a language through which children develop confidence, empathy, resilience, and self-awareness.
Alongside my work with Ballet Trove, I serve on the boards of Southern Ballet Theatre in Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, and Olympia Gymnastics Sports. In these roles, I contribute to strategic direction, governance, and long-term sustainability, with a strong commitment to nurturing creative ecosystems and ensuring future generations have access to high-quality training, safe environments, and inspiring leadership.
I live between Byron Bay, Sydney, and New Zealand with my husband and two daughters, and I am continually inspired by natural beauty, meaningful conversations, and the quiet power of creative practice. Ballet Trove is, in many ways, an extension of how I live and what I value—a curated world where imagination is protected, beauty is intentional, and art is gently woven into everyday moments.
Ballet Trove is not just a brand. It is a philosophy—one rooted in the belief that when children are given the space to move, imagine, and create, they grow into adults who lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence. And that is where the magic begins.
Learn more: https://www.renataogayar.com/about