Retirement: Judy Maelor Thomas - Dutch National Ballet's ballet mistress

Dutch National Ballet's ballet mistress, Judy Maelor Thomas, is saying a good-bye to the company, closing her 37 year career in ballet, the company said on 20th June 2026 in its Instagram post.

The Walsh Thomas graduated from The Royal Ballet School and danced with companies in France, the UK and Belgium. She also worked as a choreographer internationally and an artistic director in Australia.

Thomas had previously worked as a ballet mistress with Dutch National Ballet in 1990s. She returned from Australia to the company as an artistic staff in 2002. Artistic Director Ted Brandsen and Associate Artistic Director Rachel Beaujean also retire from the company at the end of the current season.