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1 January 2009
West Australian Ballet announces Australian and international choreographers for Ballet at the Quarry 2009
West Australian Ballet is excited to announce another spectacular season of Ballet at the Quarry. From 11 until 28 February 2009, West Australian Ballet will perform under the stars at Perth's most magical venue, the Quarry Amphitheatre, set in natural bushland surrounds overlooking the city. Part of the Perth International Arts Festival, the program will include works by Australian Choreographer Natalie Weir, newly appointed as the artistic director of Expressions Dance Company; acclaimed Spanish choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo; and Timothy Harbour, formerly of The Australian Ballet, who will create a new work for the popular Quarry season.
Natalie Weir will present Lacrimosa, first performed at Ballet at the Regal in 2008, but created with the Quarry in mind. The ballet was inspired by the emotionally powerful music of Mozart's Requiem, written just before Mozart's death. Weir says 'A beautiful cohesion exists between the human voice and dance and its ability to touch and move one's soul, sometimes without us knowing why'.
Alejandro Cerrudo will present the Australian premiere of Lickety-Split, originally commissioned and performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in the USA. Lickety-Split features music by popular indie folk musician Devendra Banhart.
‘This enigmatic piece for three couple's offers something stranger and ultimately more satisfying...Mr. Cerrudo threads deft, mysterious arm gestures throughout his easy, generous choreography.' The New York Times, 2008 Finally, talented Australian choreographer Timothy Harbour will premiere a new work especially for Ballet at the Quarry 2009. Harbour has been commissioned by companies all over the world including the New York Choreographic Institute and The Australian Ballet. "Tim Harbour mixes conventionally upright, textbook ballet moves with stretchy, bendy extremes that look splendid..." The Australian, 2006 Ballet at the Quarry 2009 is the beginning of Ivan Cavallari's second season with West Australian Ballet, after a highly-praised first season in 2008. Enjoy a bottle of wine and a picnic in this perfect balmy outdoor venue for what promises to be the highlight of Perth's summer calendar.
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30 October 2008
West Australian Ballet announces big story ballets, dynamic choreography, and an expanded company in 2009.
Following a widely acclaimed first season in 2008 for West Australian Ballet, Ivan Cavallari has unveiled his second season for 2009.
Cavallari's vision remains to bring exceptional ballet to the people of Western Australia. "a broad range of quality repertoire, national and international choreographers and productions, to inspire my dancers and the audience," he says.
In order to do so, the Company has permanently expanded to 32 dancers with a program for young artists. In addition it will maintain its fourth season at The Regal Theatre, which attracted audiences beyond the company's expectations last year.
Season 2009 opens at the magical Quarry Amphitheatre, 11 - 28 February. Ballet at the Quarry has become an unmissable event on Perth's summer calendar, part of the Perth International Arts Festival. The program will include Natalie Weir's poignant Lacrimosa, which was choreographed to Mozart's Requiem with the Quarry in mind, along with a new work from young Australian choreographer Tim Harbour, formerly of The Australian Ballet. And for the first time in Australia, a cheeky work - Lickety-split - by acclaimed Spanish choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, performed to music by popular indie-folk musician Devendra Banhart.
Then from 17 April - 2 May, West Australian Ballet is thrilled to be performing the quintessential romantic ballet, Giselle, at His Majesty's Theatre. Accompanied by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, this magical, moonlit, sumptuous production is based on the original 1841 version, choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. It has been performed by the some of the world's most prestigious ballet companies and comes to West Australian Ballet courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. "This giselle is a perfect gem" - The National Business Review From 3 - 18 July the company returns to His Majesty's Theatre to perform the greatest love story ever told, Romeo and Juliet. This exciting version choreographed by Youri Vàmos is set in the 1930's and features an evocative set and costumes from the period. Accompanied once again by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, this production comes to West Australian Ballet courtesy of Deutsche Oper Am Rhein. "Even more familiar to audience members than Prokofiev's score will be this genuine evocation of first love. Vàmos' choreography is stunning in its ability to touch the heart, which is no small feat when presenting one of the world's most familiar tales." - The Prague Post The final main season performances for 2009 will take place in the art deco ambience of Subiaco's Regal Theatre, from 1 -3 October. Ballet at the Regal features an adventurous program of short works including Uwe Scholtz' masterpiece, Suite No 2 for two pianos by Rachmaninov, performed with live accompaniment, in this fifth anniversary year of Scholz' death. Ivan Cavallari will also choreograph his second new work for the company, Dolly, a contemplation of immortality, set to the stirring Andantino from Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 2. This is also the audience's second chance to see Cerrudo's Lickety-split and Tim Harbour's new work. For further information please contact: Rosita Stangl, Publicist
West Australian Ballet
ph: 9367 8884 or email: rositapr@iinet.net.au
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