Media Release Australian Ballet Back On Board 130109
NEWS
W
S FR
F OM
O
The Australian Ballet
Tuesday 13 January 2009 – for immediate release
The Australian Ballet back in the studio
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Artistic Director David McAllister said he was looking
forward to another extraordinary year.
“There is a wonderful buzz in the corridors as we
return to our Melbourne studios,” he said. “We’re
rested, ready and thoroughly excited about getting
stuck into the diverse feast of dance, music and
design that is our year in 2009.”
The year begins with a few changes amongst the
ranks, new faces and fabulous guest artists.
Danc
n e
c r p
rom
o ot
o io
i n
o s
n
Stephanie Williams and Rudy Hawkes photo Tim Richardson
The Australian Ballet is delighted to announce that a
number of talented dancers have been promoted.
"If
I
f yo
y u’
u re
e m
is
i s
s in
i g
n Oly
l m
y pia
i n
a fe
f ats
t per
e fo
f rmed
d by
y
Amber Scott, Lana Jones, Leanne Stojmenov, Andrew
extr
t ao
a rdi
d na
n r
a y,
y at
a hle
hl t
e ic
i bo
b die
i s… T
he
he Aus
u tral
a ila
i n
n Ballle
l t
t
Killian and Remi Wörtmeyer have all been promoted
wilil lpu
p t
u y
ou
u ou
o t
u o
f
f yo
y u
o r
u
r mis
i e
s ry…
… a fe
f ast
t of
f sup
u e
p rfi
f t
i
to Senior Artist. Juliet Burnett and Laura Tong
fle
l s
e h." Herald Sun 2008
received promotions to the rank of Soloist, while Ben
Davis and Rudy Hawkes moved up to Coryphée.
Spe
p cia
i l
a
l gues
e ts
“… the
t
he compan
a y
n
y has
ha lilv
i ed
d up
u
p to
o it
i s m
ot
o to
o of
f ‘
car
a i
r n
i g
n
for
o tr
t ad
a it
i io
i n
o ,
n da
d ri
r ng
n t
o be
b di
d ff
f e
f r
e en
e t.’”
’ La Tribune (Paris) Former Borovansky Ballet member Joh
o n A
uld will
2008
travel to Australia to reproduce the stunning
Petrouchka. Australian ballet royalty Marilyn J
one
n s
and esteemed dance coach Ai
A -Gul
l G
as
a in
i a
n will guest
“T
“ he
h Aus
u tra
r lila
i n
a
n Ballle
l t
e … opt
p fo
f r
o m
us
u c
s ul
u a
l r,
r en
e e
n rg
r eti
t c
i
star in the pivotal role of Clara the Elder in Graeme
and
n luc
u id
i d
anc
n e tha
t
t
ha is
i ur
u gent
n ,
t pow
o erfu
f l
u
l an
a d
d
Murphy’s Nutcracker. We’re also delighted to have
una
n po
p lo
l ge
g tic
i .”
. Metro Life (London) 2008
two of the world’s most sought-after choreographers,
British luminary Way
a ne
n M
cGre
r g
e o
g r and St Petersburg’s
Alex
e ei
e
i Ra
R tm
t an
a s
n ky, creating two new works for us to
“
premiere in Concord. More news on international
“M
“ cA
c lllils
i te
t r’s
’ dan
a c
n ers
r ar
a e a
a sle
l ek
e an
a d
n ve
v rsat
a ilie
l
e
b
guest stars to come soon!
bun
u c
n h.
h ”
” The Sunday Telegraph (London) 2008
- continues -
Bookings:
australianballet.com.au
1300 369 741
For media enquiries:
Kitty Walker 0428 135 546
Donna Cusack 0409 359 174
australianballet.com.au
2 Kavanagh Street Southbank Victoria 3006 Australia
Telephone 03 9669 2700 Facsimile 03 9686 7081
NEWS
W
S FR
F OM
O
The Australian Ballet
We wel
e c
l om
o e
The
he Ballle
l t
t R
us
u ses
e le
l gac
a y
y
We also welcome several new members to the
2009 marks the centenary of the first season in Paris
company. Brett Chynoweth, Kristy Corea, Noah
of the legendary Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.
Gumbert, Luke Marchant, Karen Nanasca and Valerie
This year also marks the conclusion of our four-year
Tereshchenko will join the Corps de Ballet.
exploration and celebration of the impact the Ballets
Russes has had on the world of art – and in
Ballle
l t
e bab
a y
y up
u dat
a e
particular, their influence on the arts in Australia.
After the birth of daughter Claudia Radojevic in July,
David McAllister said: “We will certainly be marking
Lucinda Dunn will return to the stage in February.
the centenary year of the Ballets Russes’ debut in the
Lynette Wills welcomed her second child Sophie Bella
West with great style and artistry.”
Burke in mid December while Olivia Bell will join
Madeleine Eastoe in pregnancy duties, announcing
Regio
i na
n l
l to
t ur
u ing
n
that she is expecting in June!
The Australian Ballet’s regional touring arm - The
We fa
f r
a ew
e elll
Dancers Company - will present a Ballets Russes
inspired programme with 21 performances in three
A small number of dancers depart this year to embark
states: Victoria, Queensland and Northern Territory,
on new experiences - Tristan Message, Adam Thurlow, engaging more people than ever in regional Australia.
Frances Murphy, Melissa Lenehan and Simone Pulga.
“We wish them every success for the future and thank Siliv
l er
e an
a ni
n v
i ers
r ary
r
them for the unique contribution they have made to
The Australian Ballet and Principal Sponsor Telstra
this company,” said David McAllister.
celebrate 25 ye
y ar
a s of
o pa
p rt
r ner
e shi
h p in 2009 – a
The
h ye
y ar
a ahe
a
ad
a
remarkable achievement. We’re delighted to
announce that Telstra has recently signed on as The
Six seasons, 15 ballets and 156 performances will
Australian Ballet’s Principal Sponsor for a further
feature in 2009. The programme ranges from full-
three years, from 2009 through to 2011.
length ballet classics to contemporary works by major
Australian and international choreographers: Firebird
David McAllister said: “This is one of the longest
and other legends, Nutcracker – The Story of Clara,
running arts partnerships in Australia – an
Bodytorque 2.2, Paris Match, Concord and The
achievement we’re all incredibly proud of.”
Sleeping Beauty.
In celebration of this milestone, six new Telstra
2009 will also bring eight world premieres to the stage Dancer Award nominees will be announced in
beginning with a brand-new interpretation of Firebird
February, and in March we return to Brisbane to
by one of Australia’s greatest choreographers Graeme
present Telstra Ballet in the Gardens. As Production
Murphy. This is Murphy’s first outing for The Australian Sponsor of the Firebird and other legends seasons in
Ballet since 2002’s international smash hit Swan
Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, Telstra has a
Lake. Wayne McGregor and Alexei Ratmansky will
number of special surprises in store – watch this
create two new works to premiere in Concord, while
space!
Bodytorque 2.2 continues the company’s investment
- ends -
in emerging choreographic artists as new works by
Robert Curran, Damien Welch, Kevin Jackson, Remi
Wörtmeyer and Reed Luplau are presented.
Bookings:
australianballet.com.au
1300 369 741
For media enquiries:
Kitty Walker 0428 135 546
Donna Cusack 0409 359 174
australianballet.com.au
2 Kavanagh Street Southbank Victoria 3006 Australia
Telephone 03 9669 2700 Facsimile 03 9686 7081
