Major Australian repertoire for major world ballet capitals.

Friends of The Australian Ballet Give Record Sum to International Tour.

2008 is a big year for The Australian Ballet. In addition to 162 performances across the country,
The Australian Ballet will tour four works to Paris, London and Manchester in September and October, marking the company’s 30th international tour in its 46 year history. The company will present contemporary, mainly large scale Australian works, full of awesome ensemble movements and exquisite passages that showcase the brilliance of our leading dancers.

Artistic Director David McAllister said, “Over the past three years the international profile of the company has been cemented on the world stage. The benefits of this are not only for our international audiences, but also our audiences at home, who enjoy the confidence and artistic development gained by the dancers with this global exposure.”

The Australian Ballet is also proud to be taking contemporary Australian indigenous dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre to Paris and London for 8 performances of Stephen Page’s Rites. Fusing the intense spirituality of indigenous culture with the beauty of ballet, Rites features dancers from both companies in an arousing piece of dance theatre set to Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

The company will begin the tour at the Théâtre du

Friends of The Australian Ballet give $200,000 to The Australian Ballet, Monday May 19th.

Châtelet in Paris on September 29th, opening with a compelling double bill featuring Rites alongside a brand-new interpretation of Symphonie Fantastique from acclaimed Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor, and followed by the French debut of Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake.

One of the company’s most successful productions of all time – Graeme Murphy’s multiple award-winning
Swan Lake is a powerful interpretation of the iconic ballet. Graeme Murphy’s dazzling interpretation features a contemporary storyline of drama, wit and passion. The production has been greeted with rapturous standing ovations and critical acclaim in London, Cardiff, Shanghai and Tokyo resulting in the company receiving the 2005 UK Critics’ Circle Award for ‘Best Foreign Dance Company’.

The Australian Ballet last toured Paris 43 years ago in 1965 with a mixed bill and Raymonda starring Ballet dance legends Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.

In London the company will present a double bill at Sadler’s Wells featuring Rites accompanied for five performances by legendary Russian choreographer Leonide Massine’s best known work Les Présages.

The Australian Ballet will finish the tour in Manchester with Graeme Murphy’s production of Swan Lake at The Lowry, an architectural flagship theatre located in a stunning waterside location.

$480,000 has been generously given towards the 2008 international tour by supporter groups and private benefactors. These include The Australian Ballet Endowment’s International Fund, The Australian Ballet Society, SA Friends of The Australian Ballet and a leadership gift of $200,000 from the NSW Friends of The Australian Ballet, a record sum for the Friends to donate to the company.

The Friends of The Australia Ballet is a volunteer organisation of supporters for the company. This very active group holds events which fundraise for special activities of The Australian Ballet. Founded 35 years ago, The Friends have generously donated in excess of $1.4million since 1996 to The Australian Ballet for projects such as Ballet Scholarships, Ballets Russes Projects, the Maina Gielgud Trust and overseas touring programmes.

Tour Dates:

Paris
Double Bill  - Symphonie Fantastique and Rites with Bangarra Dance Theatre
Date: September 29th –30th,  3 performances
Venue: Théâtre du Châtelet

Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake
Date: October 2nd – 4th, 4 performances
Venue: ” Théâtre du Châtelet

London
Double Bill – Les Présages and Rites with Bangarra Dance Theatre
Date: October 7th-11th, 5 performances
Venue: Sadler’s Wells

Manchester
Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake
Date: October 14th-18th, 6 performances
Venue: The Lowry