The Australian Ballet returns to NYC At Lincoln Center June 12-17
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jun. 08, 2011
The Australian Ballet will return to NYC after more than a decade-long absence as part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, presenting three North American premieres at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, June 12 - 17, 2012.
Set to Tchaikovsky's lush score, this is Murphy's modern interpretation of the classic story of love and betrayal between a princess, her prince and a woman with a prior claim on his heart. At once an homage to the grandeur of 19th-century classicism and an invigorating update that speaks to today's audiences, this production has won ten major awards and sold out theatres across Australia and around the world. Graeme Murphy was born in Melbourne and studied at The Australian Ballet School. He served as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company for 31 years, is a recipient of the Order of Australia and was named a National Living Treasure in 1999 by the National Trust of Australia. Murphy's many directing and choreographic credits include the upcoming world premiere of Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Nutcracker-- the Story of Clara, Firebird and The Silver Rose (The Australian Ballet); Metamorphosis, Turandot, Salome and The Trojans (Opera Australia); Tivoli (a Sydney Dance Company/Australian Ballet co-production); and Embodied (Mikhail Baryshnikov). He has also choreographed Death in Venice (Canadian Opera Company), Samson et Dalila (The Metropolitan Opera, New York) the movie Mao's Last Dancer, and the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies in May 2011.
Dyad 1929 (2009), choreographed by Wayne McGregor
Dyad 1929, which means 'two' or 'otherness', was created as part of a diptych, preceding Dyad 1909, which premiered at Sadler's Wells, London. The kinetic piece is set to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet by Steve Reich, and was inspired by the creativity and passion of Diaghilev's world famous Ballets Russes and the rapidly changing world events of the 1920s. McGregor created this new work on the dancers of The Australian Ballet.
(World premiere in collaboration with The Australian Ballet, February 2012)
Bangarra is Australia's premier Indigenous performing arts company that bases its work on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and stories. Established in 1989 and under the artistic leadership of Stephen Page for the last twenty years, Bangarra's ensemble of 14 dancers has developed a potent, original and distinctive style and tours throughout Australia and internationally. Winners of multiple awards, Bangarra has created a powerful dance theatre language that unifies the past and the present. A descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe from southeast Queensland, Stephen Page has developed an extraordinary signature body of work including Alchemy (1996), Rites (1997) and Amalgamate (2006) for The Australian Ballet and over 17 original works for Bangarra. Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year in 2008 in recognition of his efforts to bring cultures together through the performing arts and his commitment to mentoring young Indigenous artists. In 2010, Stephen was honoured at the prestigious Australian Dance Awards for his Services to Dance and accepted Bangarra Dance Theatre's award for 'Outstanding Performance by a Company' for Fire: A Retrospective. The Australian Ballet
Founded in 1962, The Australian Ballet is one of Australia's flagship arts companies, and for five decades has been the defining face of ballet in Australia. One of the busiest ballet companies in the world, The Australian Ballet annually presents over 630 performances and education events throughout Australia, in addition to regular international touring. Recent tours include the landmark 2008 tour to Paris, Manchester and London with Bangarra Dance Theatre. In 2005 the company performed Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake in London where the performances were awarded the UK Critics' Circle award for 'Best Foreign Dance Company'. Versatility, technical excellence and a warm, friendly style are the trademarks of The Australian Ballet, qualities that have earned both critical and audience acclaim. The Australian Ballet's diverse repertoire reflects the company's vision: caring for tradition, daring to be different. Each year, it performs works from the classical repertoire as well as contemporary works by major Australian and international choreographers and new commissions that explore the development and future of this dynamic art form. David McAllister, a graduate of The Australian Ballet School, joined the company in 1983. He was promoted to senior artist in 1986 and to principal artist in 1989. His many principal roles with the company included those in Onegin, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Coppélia, Manon and La Sylphide. In 1985 he won a bronze medal at the Fifth International Ballet Competition in Moscow, which saw him invited to return to the USSR as a guest artist where he made numerous appearances with the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballets. He danced for the final time in Giselle in March 2001 at the Sydney Opera House and became artistic director of The Australian Ballet in July 2001. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2004 Australia Day Honours List and was elected Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2005. The Australian Ballet will present six performances at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center from June 12 - 17, 2012 (no performance June 14). Pre-sale tickets will go on sale in November, 2011. For further information, visit www.australianballet.com.au
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