American Ballet Theatre to Return to QPAC, 28 August - 7 September

The exclusive season of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is almost here, running from 28 August to 7 September 2014.

As the third presentation in QPAC's International Series, America's pre-eminent National Ballet Company, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), will present two programs during its QPAC season, including Swan Lake, choreographed by the company's Artistic Director, Kevin McKenzie and Three Masterpieces comprising three one-act ballets by three of the world's leading dance makers; Bach Partita by Twyla Tharp, Seven Sonatas by Alexei Ratmansky and Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins.

From the moment ABT takes residence at QPAC there will be a real sense that America has come to town. Featuring numerous events from a Conversation series to dance movie favourites on the Melbourne Street Green; there will be something for everyone.

The accompanying events include both a focus on education and celebration of dance and American culture.

Arts Minister Ian Walker said the American Ballet Theatre's Queensland performance of Swan Lake would be simulcast to nine regional cities and towns on August 29.

"People in Mackay, Mount Isa, Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Gladstone, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Burdekin and Charters Towers will get to see this international company at the same time as people sitting in Brisbane," Mr Walker said.

"Great events deserve great audiences and broadcasting this company's performance around the state is another promise kept in our drive to deliver the arts to all Queenslanders."

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the premier American Ballet Theatre season further enhanced Brisbane's reputation as a hub for exclusive arts and cultural events.

"Destination Success, the Queensland Government's 20-year plan for tourism, outlines the need to maximise the tourism opportunities of arts and culture as well as deliver innovative and unique events that generate repeat visitation to Queensland destinations," Ms Stuckey said.

"The two American Ballet Theatre programs provide a major drawcard for visitors to Queensland's cultural capital as the industry strives to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020."

The ever popular Conversation Series will return ensuring stimulating, robust and informative conversations around the ABT program, dance and music for dance. These Conversations allow audience members to engage with the artists whose work you will experience, reflect with practitioners who are deeply engaged in the artforms, and navigate the makings and meanings of the great ballet repertoire.

Along with the return of the Conversations Series, QPAC is also bringing back Feet First - An Invitation to Dance. Held on the Melbourne Street Green on Sunday 31 August and Sunday 7 September, Feet First encourages people to come and celebrate dance in many of its forms. The program is suitable for all ages and abilities and each session will offer demonstrations as well as a chance to join in and learn short routines.

The FREE events also include Movies on the Green (which will run each night of the ABT performances) on QPAC's Melbourne Street Green screening some of the best and most enjoyable dance films, including Dirty Dancing, West Side Story, On the Town and Strictly Ballroom. We encourage people to bring a blanket, purchase a picnic basket of goodies, settle in and enjoy our absorbing and sometimes toe-tapping movie program under the stars.

To celebrate the ABT's season and give audiences a rare look behind the scenes, QPAC is also offering hosted Backstage Tours of the sets, props and costumes of the ballets performed by American Ballet Theatre as well as an inside look at the workings of QPAC's Lyric Theatre. These tours are strictly limited and filling up fast.

While the majority of the events surrounding the ABT's exclusive season at QPAC are FREE or low cost, some require bookings to be made and are filling up fast, for full information on both the paid and FREE events click here.

The QPAC International Series is a joint initiative of QPAC and Tourism & Events Queensland to bring the world's finest performing arts companies exclusively to Brisbane. It is not only a way to share some of the world's greatest companies in the performing arts with Australian audiences but equally a way to engage in creative exchange between artistic communities from different countries. The ABT season is presented in association with the Brisbane Festival.

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