Gabriele Haslinger je leta 1971 diplomirala na šoli baleta Dunajske državne opera in takoj po opravljeni diploma na visoki šoli postala članica baleta Dunajske državne opera, kjer je leta 1975 prejela naziv prvakinje baleta. Plesala je nosilne in solistične vloge v številnih produkcijah klasičnih in sodobnih baletov kot so Trnuljčica, Don Kihot, Labodje jezero, Festival cvetja v Genzanu, Serenade koreografa Georga Balanchina, Ognjena ptica, Daphnis in Chloe in mnogih drugih. Pogosto je plesala z Rudolfom Nurejevim ter Anthonijem Dowellom . Po končani bleščeči plesni karieri je zaključila študij za baletno pedagogiko – smer klasični balet na Akademiji de la Danse v Monte Carlu, ki ga je vodila Marika Besobrasova. Danes poučuje klasični balet in repertoar na Baletni akademiji Dunajske državne opere kot baletna mojstrica in pedagoginja pa je gostja številnih baletnih ansamblov.

Gabriele Haslinger was 6 years old when she was accepted at the prestigious ballet school of the Vienna State Opera, 14 when she received her employment contract to the Vienna State Opera Ballet and 21 when Rudolf Nureyev (Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer, 1938 – 1993) specifically chose her of all ensemble members as his partner for a series of roles – at a time, when she had not even reached her soloist status yet. This was followed by dance partners like Sir Anthony Dowell CBE (retired British ballet dancer, former artistic director of the Royal Ballet), Kevin Haigen (American ballet dancer and educationalist) or Michael Birkmeyer (Austrian ballet dancer and choreographer) to name just a few. Gabriele was acclaimed for her virtuosity and elegance and for making the most technically demanding roles seem effortless and gracious. Little did she know that at the age of only 27, she would have to retire from her active stage career. Untimely endings, the proverbial ‘closing doors’, were not uncommon in the life of Gabriele Haslinger, be it in her professional life or in her personal endeavours. Whenever there would have come the moment to finally enjoy the fruits of her efforts, she was actually not given an awful lot of time to glory in her achievements. Two failed marriages and a premature ending of her stage career as a ballet dancer are the most painful life events Gabriele had to experience. And yet she is convinced: “Ultimately, adversity has allowed me to have a more colourful, more diverse life.”