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THE AUSTRALIAN BALLETTO CELEBRATE 50th ANNIVERSARYWithFIRST NY PERFORMANCES IN 13 YEARSPresentingThree North American PremieresWorks by Graeme Murphy, Wayne McGregor and Stephen PageJune 12 – 17, 2012 at Lincoln Center |
New York, NY, June 9, 2011 – The Australian Ballet will return to NYC after more than a decade-long absence as part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, presenting three North American premieres at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, June 12 – 17, 2012.
The company will present two distinctly Australian programs. A perfect illustration of the company’s innovative and dynamic style is Graeme Murphy’s critically acclaimed Swan Lake, which has won more than ten major awards and sold out theatres at home and around the world.
The second program is an Australian mixed-bill featuringWayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929(created on The Australian Ballet’s dancers in 2009)and a new work in collaboration with indigenous dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre, choreographed by artistic director Stephen Page. This exciting partnership between Australia’s leading dance companies will premiere locally in February 2012 before heading to New York for its international debut. A yet-to-be-announced third work will complete the all-Australian line-up.
An exclusive pre-sale will take place in early November 2011, with general public tickets available shortly after.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, David McAllister, is thrilled to be bringing the company back to New York with a stellar repertoire that showcases the dancers’ strength and artistry.
“In our 50th anniversary year, we are in peak form and this is an amazing opportunity to see the company perform stunning works which have defined and shaped us. This is our eighth tour of the United States, and we love performing there,” said McAllister. “These works are all unique to The Australian Ballet and I can’t wait to share them with American audiences for the very first time.”
On the company’s last visit in 1999, the New York Times applauded the “sleekness, clarity and modern spirit” of the dancers, a tour that included the Bangarra collaboration Rites. In 2012, the company will be travelling to New York with a touring party of 120 members. The dancers will be joined by artistic, technical, wardrobe, medical and music staff. More than 650 costumes and 250 pairs of pointe shoes will travel 16,500 kilometres to reach their destination.
International touring has always been an important part of The Australian Ballet’s vision. The company has visited 37 countries and 87 cities in its lifetime, growing its global reputation for technical excellence, versatility and dramatic flair.
Swan Lake (2002), choreographed by Graeme Murphy
Set to Tchaikovsky’s lush score, this is Murphy’s modern interpretation of the classic story of love and betrayal between a princess, her prince and a woman with a prior claim on his heart. At once an homage to the grandeur of 19th-century classicism and an invigorating update that speaks to today’s audiences, this production has won ten major awards and sold out theatres across Australia and around the world.
Graeme Murphy was born in Melbourne and studied at The Australian Ballet School. He served as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company for 31 years, is a recipient of the Order of Australia and was named a National Living Treasure in 1999 by the National Trust of Australia.
Murphy’s many directing and choreographic credits include the upcoming world premiere of Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Nutcracker–- the Story of Clara, Firebird and The Silver Rose (The Australian Ballet); Metamorphosis, Turandot, Salome and The Trojans (Opera Australia); Tivoli (a Sydney Dance Company/Australian Ballet co-production); and Embodied (Mikhail Baryshnikov). He has also choreographed Death in Venice (Canadian Opera Company), Samson et Dalila (The Metropolitan Opera, New York) the movie Mao’s Last Dancer, and the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies in May 2011.
Dyad 1929 (2009), choreographed by Wayne McGregor
Dyad 1929, which means ‘two’ or ‘otherness’, was created as part of a diptych, preceding Dyad 1909, which premiered at Sadler’s Wells, London. The kinetic piece is set to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet by Steve Reich, and was inspired by the creativity and passion of Diaghilev’s world famous Ballets Russes and the rapidly changing world events of the 1920s. McGregor created this new work on the dancers of The Australian Ballet.
Wayne McGregor is a multi award-winning British choreographer renowned for his physically testing choreography and ground-breaking collaborations across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science mediums. He is the artistic director of Wayne McGregor/Random Dance, resident company at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London and resident choreographer of The Royal Ballet since 2006. In January 2011, McGregor was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
New York, NY, June 9, 2011 – The Australian Ballet will return to NYC after more than a decade-long absence as part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, presenting three North American premieres at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, June 12 – 17, 2012.
The company will present two distinctly Australian programs. A perfect illustration of the company’s innovative and dynamic style is Graeme Murphy’s critically acclaimed Swan Lake, which has won more than ten major awards and sold out theatres at home and around the world.
The second program is an Australian mixed-bill featuringWayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929(created on The Australian Ballet’s dancers in 2009)and a new work in collaboration with indigenous dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre, choreographed by artistic director Stephen Page. This exciting partnership between Australia’s leading dance companies will premiere locally in February 2012 before heading to New York for its international debut. A yet-to-be-announced third work will complete the all-Australian line-up.
An exclusive pre-sale will take place in early November 2011, with general public tickets available shortly after.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, David McAllister, is thrilled to be bringing the company back to New York with a stellar repertoire that showcases the dancers’ strength and artistry.
“In our 50th anniversary year, we are in peak form and this is an amazing opportunity to see the company perform stunning works which have defined and shaped us. This is our eighth tour of the United States, and we love performing there,” said McAllister. “These works are all unique to The Australian Ballet and I can’t wait to share them with American audiences for the very first time.”
On the company’s last visit in 1999, the New York Times applauded the “sleekness, clarity and modern spirit” of the dancers, a tour that included the Bangarra collaboration Rites. In 2012, the company will be travelling to New York with a touring party of 120 members. The dancers will be joined by artistic, technical, wardrobe, medical and music staff. More than 650 costumes and 250 pairs of pointe shoes will travel 16,500 kilometres to reach their destination.
International touring has always been an important part of The Australian Ballet’s vision. The company has visited 37 countries and 87 cities in its lifetime, growing its global reputation for technical excellence, versatility and dramatic flair.
Swan Lake (2002), choreographed by Graeme Murphy
Set to Tchaikovsky’s lush score, this is Murphy’s modern interpretation of the classic story of love and betrayal between a princess, her prince and a woman with a prior claim on his heart. At once an homage to the grandeur of 19th-century classicism and an invigorating update that speaks to today’s audiences, this production has won ten major awards and sold out theatres across Australia and around the world.
Graeme Murphy was born in Melbourne and studied at The Australian Ballet School. He served as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company for 31 years, is a recipient of the Order of Australia and was named a National Living Treasure in 1999 by the National Trust of Australia.
Murphy’s many directing and choreographic credits include the upcoming world premiere of Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Nutcracker–- the Story of Clara, Firebird and The Silver Rose (The Australian Ballet); Metamorphosis, Turandot, Salome and The Trojans (Opera Australia); Tivoli (a Sydney Dance Company/Australian Ballet co-production); and Embodied (Mikhail Baryshnikov). He has also choreographed Death in Venice (Canadian Opera Company), Samson et Dalila (The Metropolitan Opera, New York) the movie Mao’s Last Dancer, and the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies in May 2011.
Dyad 1929 (2009), choreographed by Wayne McGregor
Dyad 1929, which means ‘two’ or ‘otherness’, was created as part of a diptych, preceding Dyad 1909, which premiered at Sadler’s Wells, London. The kinetic piece is set to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet by Steve Reich, and was inspired by the creativity and passion of Diaghilev’s world famous Ballets Russes and the rapidly changing world events of the 1920s. McGregor created this new work on the dancers of The Australian Ballet.
Wayne McGregor is a multi award-winning British choreographer renowned for his physically testing choreography and ground-breaking collaborations across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science mediums. He is the artistic director of Wayne McGregor/Random Dance, resident company at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London and resident choreographer of The Royal Ballet since 2006. In January 2011, McGregor was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
June 12 – 17, 2012
The Performance Schedule
Swan Lake, (2002, North American Premiere)
June 15 at 8:00 pm
June 16 at 2:30 and 8:00 pm
June 17 at 3:00 pm
Choreography: Graeme Murphy
Creative associate: Janet Vernon
Music: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Set and costume design: Kristian Fredrikson
Concept: Graeme Murphy, Janet Vernon and Kristian Fredrikson
Lighting design: Damien Cooper
Australian Triple Bill (Two North American Premieres and yet-to be-announced third work)
June 12 at 7:30 pm
June 13 at 8:00 pm
Dyad 1929 (2009)
Choreography: Wayne McGregor
Music: Steve Reich's Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet
Stage concept: Wayne McGregor and Lucy Carter
Costume design: Moritz Junge
Lighting design: Lucy Carter
Collaboration with Bangarra Dance Theatre (2012)
Choreography: Stephen Page
Music: David Page
Costume design: Jennifer Irwin
Set design: Jacob Nash