Art has no boundaries, and the endless dance moves are a testament to that. One of the forms of art and dance is ballet, which is rightly famous around the globe. The Australian Ballet is one of the world’s premier ballet companies reaching and promoting it. It is a prestigious institution and is ranked among the world leaders in ballet dancing. The company was founded in 1962 by Dame Margot Fonteyn and has gone on to perform in over 50 countries across six continents. There’s a lot you need to know about it, and this article will discuss almost everything about the institute. Kindly read it completely to get valuable information.
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Without further ado, let’s discuss the details of the world-renowned ballet company.
An Overview of The Australian Ballet
The company is one of the most respected ballet institutions globally and has a long history of producing world-renowned dancers. It is committed to education and offers a variety of educational programs, such as backstage tours and open rehearsals, which provide an insight into the world of professional ballet.
Some of the most famous dancers of the institute include David McAllister and Gillian Murphy. David McAllister is the current Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet and has been with the company for over 20 years. Gillian Murphy is a Principal Artist at the ballet company. She has performed lead roles in a number of the company’s most popular productions, such as Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty.
The Australian Ballet’s Commitment to Education
The Australian Ballet is committed to education and offers a variety of educational programs, such as backstage tours and open rehearsals, which provide an insight into the world of professional ballet. These programs are ideal for those who want to learn more about the art form or simply enjoy watching dancers at work. The Australian Ballet School is the company’s official training ground and is one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. The school provides full-time training to students aged 16-20 years old to nurture the next generation of Australian ballet dancers.
Operational Structure
As mentioned earlier, the company is currently led by Artistic Director David McAllister, who was appointed to the position in 2014. McAllister joined it about 25 years ago, in 1989, as a dancer. The company currently has 46 dancers in its ranks, hailing from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Europe. They all perform a repertoire of both classical and contemporary ballets, with the company currently touring their production of Swan Lake across Australia.
The ballet company is a national organisation, with its headquarters located in Melbourne. The Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne have two main performance venues. It is funded by a combination of government funding, private donations, and ticket sales. The company’s annual operating budget is approximately $33.38 million. The Australian Ballet Foundation is the company’s primary fundraising body and is responsible for generating private donations and bequests.
The Friends of The Australian Ballet
Another important partner for fundraising and support is the Friends of The Australian Ballet, established in 1969. The Friends play an important role in assisting the company with both financial and practical support. The Australian Ballet and The Friends of Australian Ballet are connected through their shared passion for ballet. The Friends group was established to provide financial and practical support for the company. Over the years, the group has played an important role in assisting with a variety of initiatives, such as backstage tours and open rehearsals, which provide an insight into the world of professional ballet.
Types of Ballet Dances Performed by The Company
The company performs both classical and contemporary ballets and teaches them at the Australian Ballet School to promote this art. Its repertoire includes well-known productions such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo & Juliet and more modern works such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Strictly Gershwin. We’ve discussed some here.
Swan Lake
Swan Lake is one of the most iconic ballets in the world. The ballet tells the story of Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with Odette, a woman who has been transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. The ballet is set to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite and features some of the most famous ballet music ever composed.
Kunstkammer
Kunstkammer is a contemporary ballet created by The Australian Ballet‘s Artistic Director, David McAllister. The ballet is set to music by Schubert and features a series of vignettes that explore the theme of love in all its forms.
Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is another classical ballet with music composed by Tchaikovsky. The ballet tells the story of Princess Aurora, who is cursed to sleep for 100 years by an evil fairy. The curse can only be broken by true love’s kiss.
Romeo & Juliet
Romeo & Juliet is a tragic ballet about the star-crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. The ballet is set to Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite and features some of the most beautiful music ever composed for this dance and is one of many ballets taught at the Australian Ballet School to students.
Harlequinade
Harlequinade is a light-hearted ballet that tells the story of Columbine, who is in love with Harlequin. The ballet is set to music by Tchaikovsky and features some of the most beautiful pas de deux ever choreographed.
Instrument of Dance
Instrument of Dance is a contemporary ballet created by the Choreographic Associate at The Australian Ballet, Gideon Obarzanek. The ballet is set to music by Philip Glass and features a series of solo dances that explore the relationship between music and dance.
That is all we have to tell you about this prestigious ballet company in Australia. We hope we have provided you with useful and interesting information. If you like reading about such topics and others like lifestyle, fashion, art, technology, business, science, etc., keep visiting The Australia Time because we are committed to keeping you updated about everything that interests you.
