Lisa-Maree Cullum

Lisa-Maree Cullum was born in New Zealand and began her training with her mother from the age of four before moving to Sydney at 14 to begin full-time training with Tanya Pearson OAM at the Tanya Pearson Academy.

After just six months at the Academy, she won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal and the Prix de Lausanne, which enabled her to continue her studies overseas at the prestigious Académie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco under the guidance of Madame Marika Besobrasova.

Lisa-Maree’s professional ballet career started at the English National Ballet in 1990. The following year, she accepted Peter Schaufuss´s invitation to join the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Germany. Only two months later, Schaufuss entrusted her with the lead role in the world premiere of his Giselle. Shortly after she was promoted to principal dancer.

Artistic Director, Ivan Liška offered Lisa-Maree a principal contract with the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany, where she danced until 2015.

In 1998, Lisa-Maree was acclaimed Dancer of the Year by a leading Munich newspaper. She was nominated for the Prix Benois de la danse in Moskau 2002 and she was acclaimed Dancer of the Year 2002 for her outstanding interpretation of the lead role in Sleeping Beauty with the Ballet of the Opera of Rome. She has appeared as a guest dancer on stages worldwide, like the Mariinsky Theatre St Petersburg, Imperial Ballet Moscow, Teatro alla Scala Milano, Teatro dell ‘Opera di Roma, National Theatre Prag, Royal Swedish Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Queensland Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet to name a few.

In 2008 Lisa-Maree was awarded the highest honorary title ‘Kammertänzerin’ by the German government for her contribution as a world class artist.

Since retiring from the stage Lisa-Maree has taken on the role as a teacher and mentor, passing on her knowledge and experience to present and future generations.

In 2015 she was invited to be a Jury Member of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne.

Lisa-Maree has been the Associate Artistic Director and teacher at the Bavaria Ballet Academy (BBA) and worked frequently as guest for prestigious international schools and companies throughout the world. In 2025, Lisa-Maree Cullum concludes her time as Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Academy.

Lisa-Maree joined Queensland Ballet's Artistic team as Rehearsal Director in January 2026.