The Australian Ballet Regional Tour Brings GISELLE to New South Wales

The Australian Ballet Regional Tour brings the landmark production Giselle to New South Wales

The Australian Ballet is bringing romance to regional Australia as it presents the quintessential classical ballet Giselle in 2017. The critically acclaimed production will be presented in NSW from 4 to 21 October.

Since its creation in 1841, Giselle has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world with its heartbreaking love story, famous mad scene, sea of ghostly white tutus and impressive display of ballet technique.

Since 1982, The Australian Ballet Regional Tour, formerly known as The Dancers Company, has brought the enchanting and transformative experience of ballet to communities across Australia. The tour showcases the artistry and technical skills of artists of The Australian Ballet and graduating students of The Australian Ballet School. In 2017 the tour is expected to reach over 11,000 people in regional locations through performances and community engagement activities.

Artistic Director David McAllister said "Regional touring has been an important feature of the company's activities since our very first tour back in 1966. Since 1980 the tour has partnered with The Australian Ballet School to undertake annual tours to regional centres, presenting a wide selection of our company's diverse repertoire across the country. This year we are taking one of the most treasured works - the romantic classic Giselle on the road. This is a ballet that all dancers love dancing and I am sure these dancers will follow in the footsteps of world-famous Italian ballet dancer Carlotta Grisi, who was so well known for performing the role of 'Giselle'."

Executive Director Libby Christie said "From our earliest years, The Australian Ballet has been committed to bringing world-class ballet to regional communities and we're thrilled to be taking this production of Giselle on tour in 2017. Beyond performances, we will also connect with regional communities through a range of activities in theatres and local schools. Our touring party of 49 is preparing to cover more than 5,000 km this year. We are looking forward to continuing our tradition of presenting unforgettable experiences for our regional audiences."

Telstra's Chief Financial Officer Warwick Bray said the company's 33-year partnership with The Australian Ballet has helped connect more Australians in smaller cities and towns with the joys of ballet.

"People in regional Australia should be able to enjoy the same world-class experiences as their friends and family living in big cities. We're proud that our long-standing partnership with The Australian Ballet has helped more people in more places spend an amazing night at the ballet."

Aligning with the tour, The Australian Ballet will engage with local communities through its "Step Inside" and "Behind the Scenes" programs. The Australian Ballet's education team will also provide innovative, high-quality dance education that aligns with the Australian curriculum using a STEAM approach. The dance education team will visit ten schools in regional NSW and Tasmania whereby over 2,000 students will get to experience fun, interactive workshops delivered free of charge.

About Giselle

Having gripped audiences the world-over since it first premiered in 1841 in Paris, Giselle's tragic story of love, madness and betrayal is played out in secret trysts and ghostly visions across two spectacular acts.

Giselle follows the story of a village girl who falls in love with a man who is not all he seems. When she discovers his deception, she dies of a broken heart. Transformed into a spirit, she is reunited with her lover in a forest haunted by the ghosts of jilted women, and must dance with him until dawn to save his life.

What the critics had to say:

"A marvel of precision and ethereal beauty.... Giselle is really the perfect ballet" Sunday Herald Sun

"Phenomenal dramatic impact" The New York Times

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Wollongong, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
Wednesday 4 October, 7.30pm
Thursday 5 October, 7.30pm

Parramatta, Riverside Theatres
Saturday 7 October, 1.30pm & 7.30pm

Bathurst, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
Tuesday 10 October, 7.30pm
Wednesday 11 October, 7.30pm

Dubbo, Dubbo Regional Theatre
Friday 13 October, 7.30pm
Saturday 14 October, 1.30pm

Taree, Manning Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 18 October, 7.30pm
Thursday 19 October, 7.30pm

Port Macquarie, Glasshouse Port Macquarie
Saturday 21 October, 1.30pm & 7.30pm

STEP INSIDE the Ballet
The Australian Ballet's much-loved Step Inside program gives a rare look behind the curtain.

Open classes give dance students the chance to participate in a class on stage with a member of the artistic staff, with live piano accompaniment.

Wollongong, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
Thursday 5 October, 4.30pm

Bathurst, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 11 October, 4.30pm

Taree, Manning Entertainment Centre
Thursday 19 October, 4.30pm

Behind the Scenes. Join us for a special peek into the daily life of our dancers. From your theatre seat you'll watch as they take class on stage and fine-tune their technique in preparation for a performance. This is a unique, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to prepare for a performance.

Dubbo, Dubbo Regional Theatre
Saturday 14 October, 12.00pm

Taree, Manning Entertainment Centre
Thursday 19 October, 12.00pm

Port Macquarie, Glasshouse Port Macquarie
Saturday 21 October, 12.00pm

For further information on The Australian Ballet Regional Tour and Step Inside events, visit

australianballet.com.au
australianballet.com.au/step-inside