QPAC Welcomes Italian Ballet Superstars From Milan Ahead Of First-Ever Australian Season

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) today welcomed members from Italy's Teatro alla Scala to Brisbane, ahead of the world-famous ballet company's first-ever Australian visit in its 240-year history for the 2018 QPAC International Series in November.

Teatro alla Scala General Manager Maria Di Freda and Ballet Director Frédéric Olivieri, along with Star Principal Dancers Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko are visiting from Milan in the lead up to the company's Brisbane-only performances of Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote (7 to 11 and 17 November) and Giselle (14 to 16 and 18 November).

During their whirlwind trip, the special guests will be part of community events celebrating Italian National Day in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney over coming days, and partake in numerous media engagements.

As one of the most recognised cultural brands in the world, Teatro alla Scala's exclusive-to-QPAC Australian premiere season furthers the state's reputation as a cultural hub.

During the 2018 QPAC International Series 115 of this dynamic company's members, including 75 dancers, will take up residency in Queensland for three weeks in November, in a blockbuster program celebrating Italian arts and culture on and off the stage.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said the International Series was about bringing the world's best exclusively to Queensland and audiences across Australia would not want to miss it.

"Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company is renowned for its great influence on dance in Europe; its precise artistic standards and the pristine technique of its dancers will be strikingly evident in the two iconic stage classics it is performing at QPAC," Mr Kotzas said.

Alongside Teatro alla Scala's great Principal Dancers Nicoletta Manni, Claudio Coviello and Timofej Andrijashenko, superstar guest artists to appear at the QPAC International Series include David Hallberg Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, Leonid Sarafanov Principal Dancer at Mikhailovsky Theatre and Maria Eichwald principal dancer at the Stuttgarter Ballet and now international guest for prestigious companies.

The cast mix will enchant audiences as Nicoletta Manni partners with David Hallberg and Maria Eichwald with pairs with Claudio Coviello in Giselle, and Leonid Sarafanov partners with Nicoletta Manni in Don Quixote.

"However, there is so much more to experience outside the theatre. We want Teatro alla Scala's presence in Queensland to be felt by as many people as possible, so we are creating multiple connection points during the International Series between artists and audiences," Mr Kotzas said.

Beyond its performances of Don Quixote and Giselle, Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company's reach will be amplified by a program of events and activities including conversations, masterclasses, community participation projects, exhibitions, access to dress rehearsals for students and more.

To coincide with the ballet star arrivals, Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch announced audiences in eight Queensland cities and towns had the opportunity to experience the Company's performance of Don Quixote via a free simulcast.

"Communities as far west as Mount Isa and as north as Hinchinbrook can watch Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company's Australian premiere performance of Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote Simulcast live from QPAC's Lyric Theatre on Saturday 10 November," Minister Enoch said.

Mr Kotzas said for the first time audiences could see both QPAC International Series performances in one bumper ballet weekend from 16 to 18 November.

"We are very grateful Teatro alla Scala has arranged its performance schedule to deliver both highly acclaimed classic productions so that audiences can make a weekend of it in Brisbane," Mr Kotzas said.

"This is an opportunity of a life time and will be a major drawcard for interstate audiences during the Company's Australian exclusive season in Brisbane."

Since its inaugural presentation in 2009, the QPAC International Series has welcomed some of the world's finest performing arts companies - including Paris Opera Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Ballet - with many of them making their Australian debuts.

The Series has reached a collective audience of more than 140,000 people and generated a combined economic impact of more than $20 million for the Queensland economy.

Tickets are on sale now via qpac.com.au/lascala or 136 246. Travel packages are also available through the 2018 QPAC International Series Official Travel Package Provider Virgin Australia Holidays.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support the 2018 QPAC International Series, which features on the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar. Your perfect next event is in Queensland where live events combine with the most incredible destinations, and life is beautiful one day, perfect the next.

The 2018 QPAC International Series is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Principal Partner MinterEllison. The Series is also supported by Major Partner Treasury Casino & Hotel and Major International Partner Ghella.

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