Born in Hong Kong, Durham, now aged 22, is in the corps de ballet of the flagship ballet company. She lived in Canberra from three months old and, after starting to learn ballet at the age of three at the Lisa Clark Dance Centre, later studied jazz, tap and contemporary dance before moving to the Australia Ballet School in Melbourne.

Now in its 13th year, the ballet award has so far uncovered some of the Australian Ballet’s brightest stars, including seven previous winners who have risen through the ranks to reach principal artist status.

The 2015 award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 3 and the winner of the People’s Choice Award, decided by public vote, will receive $5000.

Her solo highlights so far have included a part in  Ji?í Kylián’s “Petite Mort” in 2014 and the roles of Stepmother in Alexei Ratmansky’s “Cinderella” and Lead Hungarian in Graeme Murphy’s “Swan Lake” this year though, as she told “CityNews” several weeks ago, she aspires to the “bad girl” role of the Baroness.

Voters in the People’s Choice Award are entered into the draw for an $800 prize consisting of airfares, one night’s accommodation, two premium reserve tickets, program and drink voucher to The Australian Ballet’s performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” at the Sydney Opera House on December 3.

The Telstra Australian Ballet Dancer of the Year People’s Choice Award closes at 11.59pm on October 31. Voting to https://exchange.telstra.com.au/2015/07/09/meet-jasmin-durham-2015-telstra-ballet-dancer-award-nominee/