Austen began dancing at the age of nine under the direction of the late Deborah Barnes, as well as Audrianna Broad, Natasha Glos, and Sheri Metcalf. At the age of ten, Austen began his training in Classical Ballet at the Orlando Ballet School under the direction of Dierdre Miles Burger, Olivier Munoz and Kim Marsh.
At the age of eleven, he received the Bronze Medal in the Pre-Competitive Category at the YAGP NYC Finals. In the same year, Austen was also a semi-finalist in Paula Abdul’s Live to Dance on CBS, and a finalist for the production of Billie Elliot on Broadway/Touring. The following year he became a National Training Scholar at the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School, in New York City.
In 2014, he was the awarded Silver Medal at the YAGP NYC Finals in the Junior Category being the only American male to win a prize medal and the following year as a Senior Competitor was awarded the same medal again at the YAGP NYC Finals. Austen has earned numerous accolades such as receiving a full scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School in New York City, and the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2015, Austen was the first American Youth Dancer along with Kenedy Kallas, to perform at the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. Yuri Smekalov soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre choreographed a neo-classical repertoire on both dancers. The following year, he continued his training at the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School on a scholarship which he received as a prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland.
Austen has performed in multiple galas around the world and had an article written on him by Dance Spirit Magazine naming him a dancer "You Should Know”. At age seventeen, Austen completed his academic studies at Ellison Ballet in New York City, and the Winter before completion worked with Maina Gielgud OA former director of Australian Ballet at Ellison Ballet on Anton Dolin’s Variations for Four. Shortly after, in the same year he joined the Houston Ballet; debuting in roles such as Amour (Cupid) in Ben Stevenson's Don Quixote, and excerpts from Stanton Welch’s “Clear”. The following year he was promoted to the rank of Corps de Ballet. During his time at Houston Ballet he performed in an array of full length ballets; Swan Lake, Sylvia, Tarantella, Coppelia, The Merry Widow, Bolero, Marie, Nutcracker, Mayerling, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty.
In 2020, Austen formally retired from the Houston Ballet and began teaching Classical Ballet in the Central Florida area. He composed an extensive curriculum for pre-professional students. His students have been awarded top medals and scholarships at YAGP, ADC IBC, and Universal Ballet Competition. Austen has also trained students who are now attending distinguished college dance programs such as Julliard, and Pace University.
In May 2023, along with remaining in his position as a Classical Dance Educator, he felt exhilarated to return to the stage as a guest artist. After nearly four years, it is with great pleasure that Austen announces his upcoming return to the stage.