In fine company
Corporates could learn a lesson or two about leadership from the current succession story happening at The Australian Ballet. The synergy between David Hallberg, the world-famous American dancer, and David McAllister, the highly decorated patriarch of The Australian Ballet, means their transition has felt seamless. The two share successful careers as acclaimed principal dancers, artistic values, a friendship and even the same age they both became artistic director: 38.
2020 was meant to be a swansong for both of them – Hallberg’s exit from the American Ballet Theatre, where he’s been a principal since 2006, and McAllister’s farewell season after 20 years in the role that elevated The Australian Ballet to the world stage.
But even as Covid has brought the performing arts to a standstill, the buzz of Hallberg’s official start with The Australian Ballet continues to build, particularly since the unveiling of his daring new repertoire for 2021, which opens with Summertime at the Ballet in February, a gala performance under the night’s sky at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena, followed by an exhilarating triple bill New York Dialects to open at Sydney’s Opera House in April. The double bill Counterpointe, which juxtaposes the elegant 19th-century classic Raymonda with the vigour of Artifact Suite by William Forsythe, takes audiences into May.
It’s evident Hallberg brings both vitality and experience to the role, having also danced with the Bolshoi Ballet since 2011 (the first American to be part of its ensemble) and other
