Katikati raised Ty King-Wall is getting a big break in the Australian Ballet being named the youngest ever principal artist for the company.

The 26-year-old dancer was named the 12th principal in the ballet in what some say is a surprise move by director David McAllister.

Ty King-Wall has been named a principal in the Australian Ballet Company.

The artistic director made the announcement to the Sydney Opera House crowd during curtain call for the performance of Don Quixote on Saturday.

'Ty is a born Prince and has been a dancer that has shone brightly in all of his performances across our broad repertoire,” says David.

'It's always exciting to see a dancer whose hard work, intelligence and talent have paid off and Ty has displayed all of those characteristics throughout his career.”

Sitting in house to watch the performance at the weekend were Ty's parents who had travelled from Katikati especially for the occasion.

'We were incredibly proud. It's been a long journey and he has worked hard for it," says his mother Sue.

It was doubly special for Ty's father as it was the first time he had watched his son perform professionally.

'It's the first time he has been over since he graduated ballet school in 2005.”

Ty, who was homeschooled, trained at the Dance Education Centre in Tauranga before departing for the Australian Ballet School at the age of 16, after the community rallied behind him to raise the funds.

'The community really got behind him - we couldn't afford the international fees,” says Sue.

'He is really grateful to the local community for all the support.”

Rising through the ranks he has quickly become a success on the Australian ballet circuit, securing a spot in the Australian Ballet directly out of ballet school in 2006.

'He has travelled a lot. The Australian Ballet has been very supportive of him.

'He had a back injury a few years ago and they were great with the rehab and supported him through it.”

Based in Melbourne, the company travels for six months of the year, performing two main seasons in Sydney, as well as an international and national tour.

Sue says Ty trains six days a week, as well as performing at night.

'The dancers work really hard.”

The Australian Ballet says Ty's dynamic technique and versatile range have seen him in high demand, and he has been performing principal roles long before he was officially appointed. 'A regal stage presence, combined with a mix of masculinity and vulnerability, has won him a legion of fans, who have followed him through riveting performances as Prince Siegfried in Stephen Baynes' Swan Lake, Lensky in John Cranko's Onegin and Pinkerton in Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly.”