Born in Sydney in 2008, Malakai began dancing in hip-hop at the age of seven before discovering a passion for ballet after watching Sergei Polunin and Tamara Rojo perform Marguerite and Armand. He later trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, and lyrical, experiences that further strengthened his commitment to classical ballet.

Malakai trained under Jackie Hallahan and Paul Knobloch at the Dance Development Centre in Canberra and commenced full-time training there in 2020. During this time, he developed a strong technical foundation and gained valuable performance experience.

In 2023, Malakai joined Level 5 at The Australian Ballet School, relocating to Melbourne and becoming a boarder at Marilyn Rowe House. He has since continued his training through intensive coaching and performance opportunities, working with teachers and choreographers including Kevin Jackson, Andrew Murphy, Sergei Konstantinov, Lucas Jervis, Paul Knobloch, and Stephen Baynes. He has enjoyed performing excerpts from Don Quixote (after Rudolf Nureyev) and George Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony.

Malakai has a strong appreciation for classical ballet and is particularly interested in its combination of technical discipline and artistic expression. He aims to bring clarity, intention, and strength to his performances while continuing to develop his own artistic voice. He aspires to join a professional ballet company and perform major classical repertoire.

Outside the studio, Malakai enjoys spending time with friends, exploring cafés, listening to podcasts, and going for walks.