A former Alexandra Hills State High School and Hilliards State School pupil has visited his Capalaba home while performing for the Australian Ballet at QPAC.
Jake Mangakahia recently rejoined the Australian Ballet’s corps de ballet after spending two years doing missionary work in Canada.
Mr Mangakahia performed in Cinderella which was on at QPAC until Wednesday.
He described his return to Australia after two years on the mission as a surreal experience.
His time in Canada was largely spent helping other people.
“Now that I am back I feel I need to be doing more to help others,” he said.
Mr Mangakahia joined the Australian Ballet in 2011 and won the Telstra People’s Choice Award the following year.
However, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents doing missionary work for the Church of the Latter Day Saints, or Mormons.
“I had seen from people around me, especially my parents, the sheer joy that comes from serving missions.”
He said he learned many different things while based in Toronto, including how to cut his own hair.
“But I came to realise that I am happiest when I am serving other people,” he said.
“It has been an interesting and good journey to get back into ballet after the mission. It is difficult in some aspects, but easy in others.”
Mr Mangakahia dreams of being a principal dancer for the Australian Ballet.
In the meantime, he is enjoying the theatrical performance of Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella, which will head to London later this year.