When the first pandemic lockdown happened, the Australian dancer and model Rhys Kosakowski had just joined the Sydney Dance Company after almost eight years working overseas — first with the prestigious Houston Ballet, which he joined at age 17, then in Los Angeles, where he expanded his modelling career and burgeoning public profile.⁠ ⁠ “I got a few months of normality and then it hit,” says the Newcastle-born classical and contemporary dancer, who rose to fame as a 13-year-old playing the titular character in Australia’s “Billy Elliot: The Musical” (he was the first to perform the role outside the United Kingdom). “I was just happy that I was in the company, and by then I’d made such a family and had such a friendship group."⁠ ⁠ Having returned to Australia with an international outlook, Kosakowski, 27, believes that in order to thrive, the local arts scene must focus on what makes it unique. “I think we need to push our Australian identity, as dancers, to keep creating and keep being inspired and keep doing what you don’t see, because that’s what’s so appealing,” he says. “We need to really be our true self and keep pushing it. Hopefully, it will be seen by people overseas, which means it will travel throughout the world.”⁠ ⁠ Our eighth issue cover story, written by Andréa Tchacos (@dretchacos), explores the Australian arts industry’s cultural reset and cautious comeback. Read the full feature today at the link in bio, pick up a copy at your local newsagent or have past and present issues send straight to your door by ordering online at taustralia.com.au today.⁠ ⁠ T Australia Editor in Chief - Katarina Kroslakova @lifeofkatarina⁠ T Australia Creative Director - Melanie Milne-Davies @milnedavies ⁠ ⁠ Cover Star – Rhys Kosakowski @rhyskosakowski @kultaustralia⁠ Artist – Harold David @harolddavidstudio⁠ Photographer – Levon Baird @levonbaird⁠ Stylist - Virginia van Heythuysen @vvh_stylist⁠ Hair – Michael Brennan @michael_brennan⁠ Make Up – Stoj @stoj_makeupartist⁠