Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie’s new girlfriend, Dana Stephensen, has always had a busy life – even before she landed a role on the children’s hit show and fell for one of its stars.
In an unearthed interview with Daily Mail Australia in 2016, Dana revealed her hectic schedule as a professional ballerina made finding love difficult.
The 34-year-old dancer was first reported to be dating Lachlan, whom she met on the set of a music video in August, less than one year after he split from his ex-wife and Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins.
Dana said she started dancing when she was just three years old, and ‘never looked back’.
‘I’ve never had a moment where I didn’t love it,’ she said.
Inside the life of Dana Stephensen: Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie’s girlfriend has spoken about her life as a professional ballerina before landing a role on the children’s hit show in an unearthed interview from 2016
‘From a young age I was basically dancing six days a week so it was an intense passion and I was supported incredibly by my family who weren’t involved in the arts at all.’
Dana went on to say that she always knew she wanted to be a ballerina and moved from Brisbane to Melbourne when she was just 16-years-old to attend the Australian Ballet School.
‘We work so hard and it is one of the busiest companies in the world as we are dancing six days a week, performing up to nine shows a week and everyday we are rehearsing the next ballet season as well,’ she said.
She added: ‘I had my fun in my early twenties and we have the opportunity to travel with our job which is really wonderful.’
Childhood: Dana told Daily Mail Australia she started dancing at three-years-old and moved from Brisbane to Melbourne when she was 16 to attend the Australian Ballet School. Pictured with Lachlan
History: Dana’s demanding schedule made it difficult for her to find love, until she met her now ex-husband, photographer Michael Kai (pictured), who accepted her lifestyle
But a demanding schedule made it difficult for Dana to find love, until she met her now ex-husband Michael, who accepted her lifestyle.
‘Relationships can be a bit hard with all of the touring as you might meet someone and then you’re not there for six months,’ she said.
‘Often you meet people and it’s not the right time, especially with touring, but when I met my husband he was really okay with the touring.’
A mother’s love: In 2015, Dana welcomed her four-year-old son Jasper (pictured), who she now shares custody of with Michael
‘It never felt rushed to me’: Eight months after giving birth to her son, Dana worked with the ballet company’s medical team, who make sure all mother’s take the right steps to perform again
Dana then welcomed her son Jasper, now four, whom she shares custody of with Michael.
After giving birth in 2015, Dana worked with the ballet company’s medical team, who make sure all mothers take the right steps towards performing again.
‘I was rehearsing again at eight months and back on stage by nine months. It seems quite quick when you think about it but it never felt rushed to me, which is exactly what I wanted.’
Career highlight: In 2018, Dana reached another milestone in her career, landing a role as a ballerina on The Wiggles’ Big Ballet Day. Pictured: Dana (left) with Lachlan’s ex-wife and Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins
Start of something new: Dana is believed to have meet Lachlan (pictured) while filming a music video with The Wiggles in December
In 2018, Dana reached another milestone in her career when she landed a role as a ballerina on The Wiggles’ Big Ballet Day.
She is believed to have meet Lachlan while filming a music video with the children’s group in December that year.
Their romance was reported just four months after Lachlan had announced his shock split from his ex-wife and Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins.
Emma and Lachlan, who had joined The Wiggles in 2013 and started dating weeks later, had married in Bowral, New South Wales in 2016.
It’s over: Lachlan’s new romance comes just four months after announced his shock split from his ex-wife and Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins
