The Australian Ballet School Presents Its 60th Anniversary Gala Performance
The Australian Ballet School is delighted to present its 60th Anniversary Gala Performance in Melbourne featuring over 40 full-time senior students at the school aged 16-20, as well as special guest appearances from alumni and artists of Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, and The Australian Ballet.
Celebrating 60 years of the school, the gala performance will run for one night only on Sunday 6th Oct at the Regent Theatre, with tickets on sale from Thursday 15th August.
The program is designed to demonstrate the extraordinary talent that the school has nurtured over 60 years of training and education. With breathtaking contemporary works by renowned choreographers and alumni including Graeme Murphy AO, Lucas Jervies, and Dani Rowe, the program will also feature two brand new works and an original piece by a current student.
A work commissioned by the former director of the Australian Ballet School, Lisa Pavane, Four Seasons is a distinctive piece that pays homage to the 60-year history of the school and celebrates its vibrant future. Each season is choreographed by alumni of the school, all training during unique eras and under a different director.
Spring is created by Kevin Jackson, Summer by Lucas Jervies, Autumn by Serena Graham, and Winter by Graeme Murphy AO with an alumnus guest appearance by Simon Dow.
No. 5 – A piece inspired by the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume and based around the layers of femininity. Two musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music (a member of the Arts8 national training institutions) will accompany the ballet school performers on stage.
This piece is choreographed by Dani Rowe, a former student of The Australian Ballet School and a former principal dancer with The Australian Ballet and Houston Ballet, and now an internationally renowned choreographer and current Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre. The gala performance will be the Australian debut of this work.
Catch.Up. – A new Pas de Trois between two dancers and a musician with themes of leaning, leaving, friendship, and fun. Performed by alumni of the school and artists of The Australian Ballet Montani Rubin and Lucien Xu with music composed and performed live by award-winning Peter Wilson, also a school alumnus. The work is choreographed by Principal Artist at The Australian Ballet and school alumna, Jill Ogai.
Il Twist – A captivating and energetic Pas De Deux performed by guest artists Nikki Blain and Adam Alzaim, both alumni of the school, from the West Australian Ballet. The piece was choreographed by West Australian Ballet dancer and school alumna Polly Hilton in 2021.
Still Life – A contemporary Pas De Deux performed by school alumni and Queensland Ballet artists Sophie Zoricic and Vito Bernasconi. The piece is choreographed by school alumnus and creative all-rounder Jack Lister.
Untitled – An evocative new piece with mesmerising movement, the performance explores the challenges and triumphs encountered along the path of artistic growth and self-discovery.
The moving piece is choreographed by graduating Australian Ballet School student Jai Fauchon, drawing on his transformational journey at the school.
Megan Connelly, recently instated Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet School:
It is a pleasure to celebrate this incredible milestone for The Australian Ballet School at Melbourne’s beautiful Regent Theatre after a remarkable anniversary performance in Sydney earlier this year. Lisa Pavane has designed this program to highlight the extraordinary range of artists that the school has produced. It’s so exciting to witness alumni and current students coming together to choreograph, perform, light, and stage this special celebration. Here’s to another 60 years of nurturing the nation’s next generation of artists!
The 60th Anniversary Gala Performance will be performed by over 40 full-time students and alumni.
The production will be performed at the Regent Theatre on Sunday 6th October 2024. Prices start at $90 per adult and $70 per child.
Season Details
Venue: Regent Theatre| Melbourne
Date: 06 Oct 2024
For more information click HERE
