The Australian Ballet
| The Australian Ballet | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Name | The Australian Ballet |
| Predecessor | Borovansky Ballet |
| Year Founded | 1962 |
| Founders | Dame Peggy van Praagh |
| Principal venue | Level 5 2 Kavanagh Street South Bank Victoria Australia |
| Website | www.australianballet.com.au |
| Artistic Staff | |
| Artistic Director |
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| Music Director | Nicolette Fraillon |
| Resident Choreographers |
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| Other | |
| Associated Schools | Australian Ballet School |
| Formation |
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The Australian Ballet is the largest classical ballet company in Australia. It was founded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd. and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1962, with the English ballerina Dame Peggy van Praagh as founding artistic director. Today, it is recognised as one of the world's major international ballet companies.
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[edit] History
The roots of the Australian Ballet can be found in the Borovansky Ballet, a company founded in 1940 by the Czech dancer Edouard Borovansky. Borovansky had been a dancer in the touring ballet company of the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and, after visiting Australia on tour with the Covent Garden Russian Ballet, he decided to remain in Australia, establishing a ballet school in Melbourne in 1939, out of which he developed a performance group which became the Borovansky Ballet. The company was supported and funded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd from 1944. Following Borovansky's death in 1959, the English dancer and administrator Dame Peggy van Praagh was invited to become artistic director of the company. J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd decided to disband the Borovansky Ballet in 1961.
In 1961, J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust received federal subsidies towards the establishment of a national ballet company. These organisations established the Australian Ballet Foundation to assist with the establishment of a new company, which in 1962 became the Australian Ballet. Peggy van Praagh, who had been kept on a retainer by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd through the intervening year between the disbanding of the Borovansky Ballet and the establishment of the Australian Ballet, was invited to become the founding artistic director of the company. The majority of the dancers employed by the fledgling company were drawn from former members of the Borovansky Ballet. The first performance by the Australian Ballet was staged at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. The principal dancers in the Australian Ballet's first season were Kathleen Gorham, Marilyn Jones and Garth Welch. Van Praagh also invited the Royal Ballet's Ray Powell to temporarily became the company's first Ballet Master, with Leon Kellaway (brother of Cecil Kellaway), a former dancer with the Covent Garden Russian Ballet, as the company's first ballet teacher. In 1967 van Praagh established the Australian Ballet School, which was formed specially to train dancers for the company and remains the company's associate school to this day.
[edit] Present
Today the company is based in Melbourne and regularly tours to all the major cities within Australia, with lengthy seasons in Melbourne at the State Theatre (accompanied by Orchestra Victoria) and in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House. For one week in alternate years, the Australian Ballet performs at the Lyric Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, and one week each year, at the Adelaide Festival Centre in Adelaide. The company also occasionally tours internationally, and performs annually in an intimate outdoor setting on Hamilton Island.[1]
The Australian Ballet works in close cooperation with the Australian Ballet School, of which many of the company's dancers are graduates. Giving approximately 200 performances a year, the Australian Ballet is the busiest ballet company in the world. With a vast repertoire which includes the major classical and heritage works as well as contemporary productions, it follows its artistic vision of "Caring for Tradition, Daring to be Different". Each year, the company also presents an extensive national education programme, run by Colin Peasley a former Principal Dancer with the company, to further inspire and educate its audiences.
Box office sales, derived from its strong and loyal audience base, are the foundation of the company's income stream. The Australian Ballet also receives funding from the Australian, Victorian and New South Wales governments, corporate sponsors, private donors and bequests.
The company's current Artistic Director is David McAllister AM, who was a Principal Dancer until 2001. The company's previous Artistic Directors were: Ross Stretton (1996–2001); Maina Gielgud (1983–96); Marilyn Jones (1979–82); Anne Woolliams (1976–77); Sir Robert Helpmann (1965–76) and the founding Artistic Director, Dame Peggy van Praagh (1962–74; 1978).
The most recent appointment to the position of Executive Director is Valerie Wilder, succeeding Richard Evans.
[edit] Don Quixote
In 1973 the Australian Ballet released a film version of the ballet Don Quixote with music by Ludwig Minkus, starring Rudolf Nureyev as Basilio, Lucette Aldous as Kitri and Sir Robert Helpmann in the title role, along with artists of the Australian Ballet. Set and costumes were designed by Barry Kay. Future artistic director Ross Stretton staged the stage production during his artistic directorship of the Royal Ballet.
[edit] The Merry Widow
The ballet The Merry Widow, with music from Franz Lehár's operetta of the same name, was created by Sir Robert Helpmann and choreographed by Ronald Hynd especially for the Australian Ballet. The designer was Desmond Healey. The adaptation from operetta score to ballet score was done by John Lanchbery (then musical director of the Australian Ballet) and his colleague Alan Abbot. The ballet premiered on 13 November 1975 at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne.
In 1976, Dame Margot Fonteyn, who was guesting with the Australian Ballet, danced the leading role of Hanna Glawari.
The ballet was revived by the company in 2011, in Melbourne from 23 June to 4 July, the final performance being principal artist Kirsty Martin's farewell performance, and in Sydney from 10 to 28 November.
[edit] Company
Dancers with The Australian Ballet include:[2]
[edit] Principal artists
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[edit] Senior artists
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[edit] Soloists
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[edit] Coryphées
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[edit] Corps de ballet
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[edit] Former dancers
Former dancers with The Australian Ballet include:[46][47]
[edit] Former principal artists
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[edit] Former senior artists
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[edit] Former soloists
[edit] Former corypheés
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[edit] Former corps de ballet
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[edit] Telstra Ballet Dancer Award
The Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards have been made annually since 2003, in support of the aspirations of The Australian Ballet's elite young dancers. It is the biggest prize available specifically to a dancer in Australia, with a cash prize of $20,000 to the winner. The Telstra People's Choice Award is made to the most popular of the nominees in that year, using internet and SMS voting. The winner of the People's Choice receives a cash prize of $5,000.[58]
For the first time since the inauguration of the awards, the judging panel was unable to separate two dancers for the main award in 2010 and each received $20,000. The winners were Ty King-Wall and Dana Stephensen. Amy Harris won the People's Choice Award for the second time (she also won it in 2008).[59]
[edit] Behind Ballet
Behind Ballet is the blog of the Australian Ballet. [60]
[edit] References
- ^ "qualia on Hamilton Island’s Great Barrier Reef". qualia. http://www.qualia.com.au/news.aspx. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "Dancers". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "Dancers: Olivia Bell". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/olivia_bell. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 1995, was promoted to principal artist in 2007"
- ^ "Dancers: Adam Bull". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/adam_bull. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, was promoted to principal in June 2008"
- ^ "Dancers: Lucinda Dunn". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/lucinda_dunn. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 1991, was promoted to principal artist in 2002"
- ^ "Dancers: Madeleine Eastoe". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/madeleine_eastoe. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined the company in 1997, promoted to principal artist in 2006"
- ^ "Dancers: Daniel Gaudiello". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/daniel_gaudiello. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2004, was promoted to principal artist in 2010"
- ^ "Dancers: Kevin Jackson". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/kevin_jackson. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2003, was promoted to principal artist in 2010"
- ^ "Cupcakes & Conversation with Kevin Jackson, principal artist". Ballet News. 6 December 2010. http://balletnews.co.uk/cupcakes-conversation-with-kevin-jackson-principal-artist-the-australian-ballet/.
- ^ "Dancers: Lana Jones". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/lana_jones. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, was promoted to coryphée in 2005, was promoted to principal artist in 2010"
- ^ "Dancers: Andrew Killian". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/andrew_killian. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2000, was promoted to principal artist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Yosvani Ramos". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/yosvani_ramos. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet as a principal artist at the beginning of 2008"
- ^ "Dancers: Rachel Rawlins". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/rachel_rawlins. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "Dancers: Amber Scott". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/amber_scott. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2001, was promoted to principal artist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Leanne Stojmenov". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/leanne_stojmenov. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2001, was promoted to principal artist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Juliet Burnett". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/juliet_burnett. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2003, was promoted to soloist in 2009, and to senior artist for the 2011 season"
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Eight dancers elevated at The Australian Ballet" (PDF). Press Release. The Australian Ballet. 29 September 2011. http://c660492.r92.cf0.rackcdn.com/The%20Australian%20Ballet%20dancer%20promotions%20September%202011.pdf. "Reiko Hombo will become a senior artist, Chengwu Guo will be made a soloist and Brett Chynoweth, John-Paul Idaszak, Ako Kondo, Brooke Lockett, Karen Nanasca and Sharni Spencer are moving up to the rank of coryphée. These promotions are effective in the new year."
- ^ "Dancers: Reiko Hombo". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/reiko_hombo. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2006, was promoted to soloist in 2010"
- ^ "Dancers: Ty King-Wall". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/ty_king_wall. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2006, was promoted to soloist in 2010, and to senior artist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Miwako Kubota". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/miwako_kubota. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 1998, was promoted to senior artist in 2010"
- ^ "Dancers: Ben Davis". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/ben_davis. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2005, was promoted to coryphée in 2009, and soloist for the 2011 season"
- ^ "Dancers: Matthew Donnelly". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/matthew_donnelly. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "returned to The Australian Ballet in 1999, was promoted to soloist in 2005"
- ^ "Dancers: Chengwu Guo". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/chengwu_guo. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2008, was promoted to coryphée in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Amy Harris". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/amy_harris. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, was promoted to coryphée in 2007, and soloist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Rudy Hawkes". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/rudy_hawkes. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2005, was promoted to soloist for the 2011 season"
- ^ "Dancers: Robyn Hendricks". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/robyn_hendricks. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2005, was promoted to soloist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Brett Simon". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/brett_simon. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet as a coryphée in July 2009, was promoted to soloist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Jacob Sofer". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/jacob_sofer. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet at the beginning of 2005, was promoted to soloist in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Laura Tong". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/laura_tong. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2004, was promoted to soloist in 2009"
- ^ "Dancers: Andrew Wright". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/andrew_wright. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, was promoted to coryphée in 2008, and to soloist for the 2011 season"
- ^ "Dancers: Kismet Bourne". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/kismet_bourne. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2004"
- ^ "Dancers: Brett Chynoweth". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/brett_chynoweth. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet at the beginning of 2009"
- ^ "Dancers: Natalie Fincher". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/natalie_fincher. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2000, was promoted to coryphée in 2005"
- ^ "Dancers: Halaina Hills". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/halaina_hills. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in January 2007, was promoted to coryphée in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: John-Paul Idaszak". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/john_paul_idaszak. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2007"
- ^ "Dancers: Ako Kondo". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/ako_kondo. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2010, was promoted to coryphée for the 2012 season"
- ^ "Dancers: Natasha Kusen". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/natasha_kusen. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2003, was promoted to coryphée for the 2010 season"
- ^ "Dancers: Brooke Lockett". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/brooke_lockett. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2006"
- ^ "Dancers: Jarryd Madden". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/jarryd_madden. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet at the beginning of 2008, was promoted to coryphée in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Heidi Martin". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/heidi_martin. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet's corps de ballet in 2009"
- ^ "Dancers: Karen Nanasca". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/karen_nanasca. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet's corps de ballet in 2009"
- ^ "Dancers: Sharni Spencer". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/sharni_spencer. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet at the beginning of 2008"
- ^ "Dancers: Dana Stephensen". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/dana_stephensen. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2005, was promoted to Coryphée in 2010"
- ^ "Dancers: Garry Stocks". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/garry_stocks. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "was promoted to coryphée in 2011"
- ^ "Dancers: Vivienne Wong". The Australian Ballet. http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/vivienne_wong. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2003, was promoted to coryphée for the 2008 season"
- ^ "Dancers". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110713213420/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dancers". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100918163144/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "Dancers: Robert Curran". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110716220328/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/robert_curran. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 1996, was promoted to principal artist in 2002"
- ^ "Dancers: Kirsty Martin". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110716220624/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/kirsty_martin. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 1996, then Nederlands Dans Theater I in 2000, returned to The Australian Ballet in 2002, was promoted to principal artist in 2003"
- ^ "Dancers: Danielle Rowe". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20101013163223/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/danielle_rowe. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2001, promoted to soloist in 2005, senior artist in 2007, and principal artist in June 2008"
- ^ a b "Danielle Rowe Dances to Houston". The Australian Ballet. 31 January 2011. http://www.danceinforma.com/USA_magazine/2011/01/31/danielle-rowe-dances-to-houston/. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "Danielle Rowe has packed her bags and taken up the barre at Houston Ballet, along with her partner Luke Ingham who has also joined the company"
- ^ "Dancers: Tzu-Chao Chou". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110227102239/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/tzu_chao_chou. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2005, was promoted to soloist at the beginning of the 2008 season, and to senior artist in 2011"
- ^ "Interview with Gina Brescianini, Ballet Dancer". ABC3. 14 July 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/articles/s2953137.htm?section=arts. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "A new path for Jane Casson". Behind Ballet. 1 October 2010. http://www.behindballet.com/a-new-path-for-jane-casson/. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "Dancers: Jia Yin Du". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20101013163228/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/jia_yin_du. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2001"
- ^ "Dancers: Kristy Corea". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110227110144/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/kristy_corea. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2009"
- ^ "Dancers: Jessica Wood". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110227112559/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/jessica_wood. Retrieved 8 February 2012. "joined The Australian Ballet in 2009"
- ^ "Telstra People's Choice Award". Telstra. http://www.beinvolved.com.au/spo-arts-a-community/the-australian-ballet/peoples-choice-awards. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ Hook, Chris (6 December 2010). "Telstra Ballet Dancer Award". Sydney: Daily Telegraph. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/telstra-ballet-dancer-award/story-fn6ccwsa-1225966403515. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ^ Behind Ballet, the Australian Ballet's blog
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Australia Dancing, The Australian Ballet (1962–)
- The (Melbourne) Arts Centre, The Australian Ballet and Australian Archives of the Dance collections of the Performing Arts Collection