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

7 September 2009

Mao's Last Dancer Premiere hosted by the Friends of West Australian Ballet

Thanks to the Friends of West Australian Ballet, you could be at the West Australian premiere of the film Mao's Last Dancer on Sunday 27 September 2009 at the Windsor Cinema.  The evening begins at 6.15pm for pre-drinks before the film commences at 7.00pm.  The film is followed by a private chinese banquet at the Jade Court, with guest appearances by Li Cunxin and the film's star, Chi Cao.

To book your tickets, simply download your booking form here.  Send it to:

Friends of West Australian Ballet
29 McNeil Street
Peppermint Grove , WA 6011

19 August 2009

West Australian Ballet presents the Australian Premiere of Uwe Scholz’ Suite No. 2 at the Regal in October.

From 1 - 3 October 2009, West Australian Ballet will perform for the second year running at the iconic art deco Regal Theatre.  Headlining the program is the AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE of German choreographer Uwe Scholz’ Suite No. 2, composed by Rachmaninov: Suite No 2 for 2 Pianos.  Suite No 2 is acclaimed for its ‘pure line’ choreography and striking Kandinsky images.  The ballet will be accompanied by live pianists. 
“Scholz’ ballets are a bridge between past and future.  His genius and sensitivity ensure that classical dance remains very much alive, and his ballets will continue to be danced by future generations.” Culturekiosque Another PREMIERE is Ivan Cavallari’s one-act ballet Dolly. A contemplation of immortality, Dolly is set to the stirring Andantino from Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2.“Cavallari’s choreography is superb.” The AustralianRegal audiences will be treated to the AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE of the full length production of young WAB house choreographer, Timothy O’Donnell’s The Games We Play. The Games We Play was created for Milwaukee Ballet’s international choreographic competition earlier this year, and achieved first place (from a field of 35 international choreographers).  The ballet puts a humorous twist on a love triangle between two women and one man.Also on the program will be Alejandro Cerrudo’s moving work Lickety-Split, a crowd favourite at the Quarry in February. Lickety-Split is performed by three couples to the evocative music of popular folk musician Devendra Banhart.“(Cerrudo’s) rapid-fire dance moves harmonise perfectly with Banhart’s evocative tunes” The West Australian“Lickety-Split was a highlight of the evening” PerthNow  Finally, Fractal Joy, from emerging Australian choreographer, Timothy Harbour, will conclude this superb evening of neo-classic and modern ballet. Ballet at the Regal opens on 1 October and runs until 3 October 2009.  Tickets $45 - $76.  Bookings through Ticketek on 132 849, or visit waballet.com.au. For further information please contact:

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