“Australia’s grace on display,” someone whispers near The Australian Ballet Centre. Here we stand before a place where dedication meets artistry. The Australian Ballet Centre is more than just a building. It is the heart of Australia’s premier ballet company.
The Australian Ballet was founded in 1962. Dame Peggy van Praagh was its founding artistic director. She shaped its destiny. The company quickly became known worldwide. Now it stages over 150 performances each year. These performances occur both in Australia and overseas.
The roots of The Australian Ballet lie in the Borovansky Ballet. Edouard Borovansky founded this touring company in 1940. After touring Australia with the Covent Garden Russian Ballet, he decided to stay. He started a ballet school in Melbourne in 1939. From this school, the Borovansky Ballet was born.
In 1961, the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust joined forces. Together, they received federal funding. This funding helped establish a national ballet company. So The Australian Ballet Foundation was created. Its goal was to assist the new company. Many early dancers came from the Borovansky Ballet.
The Australian Ballet’s first performance was Swan Lake. It premiered in Sydney on November 2, 1962. Principal dancers included Kathleen Gorham and Marilyn Jones. Ray Powell from the Royal Ballet was the first ballet master. Leon Kellaway became the company’s first ballet teacher.
In 1964, The Display was performed. Robert Helpmann created this fully Australian work. Also in 1964, the Australian Ballet School was established. Its purpose was to train dancers. Dame Margaret Scott was the school’s founding director.
The Australian Ballet Centre, located in Southbank, is named after Lady Primrose Potter. She was a long-term supporter. The company tours to major cities in Australia. They perform in Melbourne at the State Theatre. They also perform in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House.
The Australian Ballet works closely with the Australian Ballet School. Many company dancers are graduates of the school. About 95% of the company’s dancers come from the school. Graduates often become principals and soloists worldwide.
The company’s income comes from various sources. These include ticket sales. Also included are government funding and corporate sponsors. Private donors and bequests also contribute.
Since 2021, David Hallberg has been the artistic director. Before this, he was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Lissa Twomey was appointed Executive Director in December 2022. Jonathan Lo became the music director in 2022.
The Australian Ballet has five levels for dancers. These levels are corps de ballet, coryphée, soloist, senior artist, and principal dancer.
The Telstra Ballet Dancer Award supports young dancers. It gives a cash prize of $20,000. The Telstra People’s Choice Award offers $5,000.
In 1992, Graeme Murphy created Clara. This adaptation of The Nutcracker tells a story about migration to Australia.
HASSELL completed a 13-million-dollar refurbishment of the facilities. The interior reflects the Australian landscape. It uses bespoke detailing. A large dance studio was designed to match the State Theatre stage. The steel staircase is wide enough for two tutus to pass. Custom terrazzo flooring echoes the shape of a ballet shoe. The colour palette draws from Australian seasons and ballet costumes.
The point shoe store is visible from the public café. Each glass box holds a dancer’s shoes. Some dancers have up to 50 pairs. The store’s contents change as dancers travel.
The Australian Ballet Centre is a place of constant motion. It nurtures talent. It brings beautiful performances to life. It connects us to the heart of Australian culture.