The Australian Ballet The Australian Ballet is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and artistic director David Hallberg has chosen to use the occasion to revive two landmark works.
One is Don Quixote, a milestone for so many reasons. It was created by Robert Helpmann and Rudolf Nureyev, who both also danced the leading roles of the Don and Basilio respectively. It was made as a film, in 1973 (still considered to be one of the best dance films around), which put the Australian Ballet on the international map.
This year, in reverse of the usual order of such things – transferring from stage to screen – Hallberg is moving the ballet from screen to stage, reproducing as faithfully as possible the original Barry Kay costumes and sets (as it was filmed in an aircraft hangar in Melbourne, some space will be required!). Don Q will start the Australian Ballet’s 2023 season in Melbourne from March 15 to 25 and Sydney from April 8 to 25.
The other landmark is Swan Lake, directed by Hallberg but inspired by the 1977 version staged by Anne Woolliams, who was the company’s third artistic director (for only a year from 1976). Hallberg will collaborate with Lucas Jervies to “to weave his own interpretation” through the original. Swan Lake will be performed in Melbourne from September 19 to 30, Adelaide from October 7 to 14, Brisbane from October 24 to 28 and Sydney from December 1 to 20.
Appropriately for the company’s Diamond Anniversary, it will perform Balanchine’s Jewels for the first time. A three-part plotless ballet by the legendary choreographer, each section has a jewel as
