16 October 2009

Dancers fly higher as Woodside turns up the gas on its newest venture.

 Today West Australian Ballet entered a new era with the announcement  that the Company and Woodside Energy have agreed to enter into a sponsorship agreement under which Woodside Energy  would become its first ever Principal Partner.

Beginning in 2010, the two companies   intend to embark on an ‘energy inspired' journey that will enable West Australian Ballet to continue to build on its new business platform. This repertoire led strategy sees the Company growing to enable world-class ballet to be produced in Western Australia.

Woodside has been a Major Sponsor of West Australian Ballet for the past two years, supporting the important Young Artist Program that Artistic Director Ivan Cavallari initiated in 2008. The synergies and personalities of the two Companies eventually led to further discussions of how the sponsorship might evolve, and ultimately the  proposal for this new Principal Partnership.

West Australian Ballet General Manager, Steven Roth said, "We couldn't be happier  for Woodside to be our first Principal Partner. There are many similarities between our two companies and our brands; both strive for excellence and to be leaders in our respective fields. Woodside's new brand, symbolising a flame and representing the energy it produces, is not unlike our brand symbol, which represents the energy created by dancers' movement through space."

Woodside Executive Vice President Rob Cole agreed the two organisations shared many characteristics.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to be the first Principal Partner.  We are both fiercely proud West Australian organisations, focused on excellence and being leaders in our field, " he said.

Mr Cole said that, in many ways, the  relationship between Woodside and West Australian Ballet was a natural fit: "While our two companies are based in Perth, we see ourselves as making significant regional, national and global contributions in our fields.

"There are also great similarities between our people - they are all passionate and dedicated professionals.  Our employees in the North West particularly welcome and anticipate the Ballet's visits to the Pilbara."

Mr Cole said Woodside's social investment program was focused on enhancing the health and vibrancy of the communities in which the company operated and its employees and their families lived.

West Australian Ballet is Australia's oldest ballet company, established just two years before Woodside in 1952, and next year it celebrates 40 years as the State Ballet Company, just one year (1970) before Woodside made its first big discovery of gas off Western Australia.

Mr Roth thanked Woodside for supporting West Australian Ballet  -  saying this new level of engagement would enable the  Company to continue to grow and extend its repertoire for all Western Australians.

For further information please contact:
Rosita Stangl, Publicist
West Australian Ballet
Ph: 9367 8884 or
Email: rositapr@iinet.net.au

16 October 2009

Season 2010 - Ivan Cavallari has assembled West Australian Ballet's most ambitious program ever.

Our Company of 32 dancers, performing:

Season 1:  Ballet at the Quarry        12 Feb - 6 March       Quarry Amphitheatre

• Petr Zuska creates a new The Rite of Spring - WORLD PREMIERE!
• And acclaimed works by Uwe Sholtz, Ivan Cavallari and Timothy O'Donnell.

Season 2:  Don Quixote                    7 - 22 May                   His Majesty's Theatre

• A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION for West Australian Ballet!
• Restaged by Australia's grande dame of ballet, Lucette Aldous.
• With West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Season 3:  The Sleeping Beauty      10 - 25 September      Burswood Theatre

• MEGASTAR, MARCIA HAYDĒE, restages her glorious full length version from Ballet de Santiago - AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE!
• With West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Season 4:  Gala                                  17 to 21 November     His Majesty's Theatre

• We celebrate 40 years as the State Ballet Company
• Beethoven's Seventh Symphony - AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE!
• Mozart's Piano Concerto No 19 and more!
• With live orchestra

West Australian Ballet is excited to announce Ivan Cavallari's third season with West Australian Ballet, in a special
year's program that celebrates the 40^th anniversary of becoming Western Australia's professional State Ballet Company. 

Ballet at the Quarry returns to the magical Quarry Amphitheatre with a new production of The Rite of Spring choreographed by Petr Zuska; who is invited back by Cavallari after he wowed audiences in 2008 with his Bolero and Maria's Dream.  Zuska, who is the Artistic Director of the National Ballet Theatre of Prague, will return to Perth this November to begin work on his new The Rite of Spring to Stravinsky's phenomenal score.

Ballet at the Quarry will also feature acclaimed works: Suite No.2 by Uwe Scholz, Ivan Cavallari's Dolly and Timothy O'Donnell's The Games We Play. 

The venue has recently undergone some upgrades by the Town of Cambridge, including clearly measured and marked seating in the grassed areas and the appointment of a specialised caterer for the venue.  This year West Australian Ballet also has a special Valentine's Day performance, Sunday 14 February 2010.

In May the Company returns to His Majesty's Theatre to present a lavish new production of Don Quixote. Cavallari has secured the talents of the grande dame of Australian ballet, Lucette Aldous, to re-stage this production on Marius Petipa's original choreography. Aldous is well-known for her role as Kitri, partnered by Nureyev as Basilio on stage and in the famous film version of Don Quixote in the 1970's.

The ballet is set in Spain and based on Cervantes' classic novel. It is known for its virtuosic choreography and light hearted humour.  Don Quixote is perfect for all ages and will be accompanied by West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

In September, a major coup for West Australian Ballet, the Company will perform the Australian Premiere of Marcia Haydée's The Sleeping Beauty at Burswood Theatre, which is the only stage large enough to accommodate this production from Ballet de Santiago (Haydée's Company).

Marcia Haydée's The Sleeping Beauty is a glorious spectacle which has received acclaim all over the world, and is certainly not to be missed. A wonderful ballet for families to share. Accompanied by West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

"This is the way a great classic deserves to be treated" Danceviewtimes.

West Australian Ballet returns to His Majesty's in November to present a spectacular Gala celebrating the important 40^th year milestone of becoming the State Ballet Company with a permanent ensemble of dancers (then just 9!). Ivan Cavallari and music Maestro Myron Romanul have assembled a very special evening of ballet featuring a cavalcade of guest stars from Australia and internationally and live symphony orchestra.

The program includes the Australian Premiere of Uwe Scholz' great neoclassical masterpiece Seventh Symphony inspired by Beethoven's elated score, "...a triumph of deep visual beauty and emotional impact." The Vienna Review.

And Perth choreographer, Kim David McCarthy, will complete his sensuous ballet, 19, by also choreographing the third movement of Mozart's joyous ‘Coronation' Piano Concerto No 19; which will be performed by Maestro Myron Romanul.

Cavallari says, "My wish is to give our audiences the chance to experience beauty and diversity and  the company the opportunity to work with significant repertoire and some of the best artists in the world. The works and choreographers chosen for Season 2010 have been an important part of my life and still are, and it is my hope that this journey will enrich my dancers and bring them to a new level, as well as giving our audiences an amazing ride."

Subscriptions for West Australian Ballet's 2010 season go on sale from Friday 16 October.  Subscription packages $58 - $295.  Book through BOCS Ticketing on (08) 9484 1144, or in person at His Majesty's Theatre.

For further information please contact:

Rosita Stangl, Publicist
West Australian Ballet
Ph: 9367 8884 or
Email: rositapr@iinet.net.au

15 October 2009

Look what we just found - a gorgeous program from 1970!

Click here to check it out!