The Australian Ballet 2024 & 2025 Seasons, Shows, Reviews

byCherilyn J. Lee

January 1, 2020 - Updated on November 13, 2024

The Australian Ballet

♦ Location: South Bank, Victoria – Australia

♦ Artistic Director: David Hallberg

♦ Orchestra: Orchestra Victoria

♦ Affiliated School: Australian Ballet School

♦ Founded in 1962 by Dame Peggy van Praagh

♦ Official Website of The Australian Ballet

Table of Contents

The Australian Ballet 2025 Season

Artistic Director David Hallberg has announced The Australian Ballet 2025 season which features the return of beloved classical ballets as well as contemporary tales and company premieres.

“It’s season that pushes the boundaries of ballet and gives you the entire arc of the human experience expressed through dance.”

David Hallberg, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet

Hallberg goes on to describe each of the programs for the season.

Nijinsky (John Neumeier )

“John Neumeier has successfully interwoven so many facets of Vaslav Nijinsky’s personal and professional trajectory into this work. John’s masterful storytelling incorporates characters from Nijinsky’s most iconic roles to create a layered narrative of the artist’s troubled life.

You can feel the very essence of Nijinsky through John’s work. The temperamental, the volatile and the engaging energy of a brilliant but unpredictable artist. John’s musical choices show the pivotal role music plays in bringing characters to life in dance and bridges the gap between sight and sound in this uniquely collaborative piece.”

Carmen (Johan Inger)

“Johan’s vision for this famous story is really unique. What I love is the reality of the emotions, and the grit of the movement. This is a Carmen for today’s time.”

Manon (Sir Kenneth MacMillan)

“The duets in this ballet are some of the greatest ever created. When I danced them, it was just my partner and myself together, falling in passionate love with the audience as voyeurs to our love story.”

The Sleeping Beauty (David McAllister)

“Tchaikovsky and Petipa created some of the most significant works in classical ballet. We are thrilled to give audiences ballets of this magnitude that celebrate its tradition and grandeur. A ballet like The Sleeping Beauty deserves a production as lavish and colourful as David McAllister’s.”

Prism featuring Blake Works VI (The Barre Project) (William Forsythe), Glass Pieces (Jerome Robbins), A World Premiere (Stephanie Lake)

“To showcase these three powerfully unique choreographers in one program is a rarity. Only a company like The Australian Ballet has the range and skill to take on such a wide range of styles in one program.”

Source: The Australian Ballet

The Australian Ballet 2024 Season

The Australian Ballet 2024 season, recently announced by Artistic Director David Halberg, promises a diversity of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works highlighted by the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Oscar©.

“As we boldly approach our 2024 season, we continue our commitment to collaboration and connection with an ambitious repertoire that exemplifies our unique artistic excellence. It is an honour to showcase the future of ballet through a curated program that includes world premieres from acclaimed choreographers alongside some of the most beloved ballets in the classical canon. ”

David Halberg, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet

Halberg goes on to describe each of the programs for the season.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Christopher Wheeldon)

“Alice is an absolute audience favourite, it’s a family-friendly colourful trip down the rabbit hole that’s full of humour, gorgeous dancing and the mystery of Alice’s magical adventure. Christopher Wheeldon created a worldwide hit in this joyful, luscious production.”

Carmen (Johan Inger)

“Johan Inger made his mark with the company with I New Then, and Carmen will further showcase his unique contemporary eye. The story of Carmen is told in a very modern, arresting and alluring way and the title role is a dream for any artist to dance. I look forward to seeing the dancers tackle one of the most ambitious contemporary productions we’ve programmed.”

Études (Harald Lander) and Circle Electric (Stephanie Lake)

“Études is classicism at its most demanding. The precision and exactitude of the choreography doesn’t allow for fault. This is a ballet that dancers dream of performing. Returning to its rightful place in The Australian Ballet’s repertoire after an absence of ten years, Études will excite audiences once again.

Stephanie Lake has proven herself to be one of the most exciting Australian choreographers creating today. Her unique style and her use of movement, music and patterns have the dancers hungrily taking on her bold sense of choreography. Stephanie’s artistic energy emanates from her vision, bringing the audience pulsing along on her rollercoaster ride of dance.”

Jewels (George Balanchine)

“Each jewel in this ballet has equal beauty and power. Emeralds, soft and mysterious. Rubies, sharp and stylised. Diamonds, brilliant and sparkling. It is a visual feast for the balletic eye and an enormous opportunity for the dancers to tackle one of Balanchine’s greatest masterpieces.”

Oscar© (Christopher Wheeldon)

“There’s no denying that any full-length creation by Christopher Wheeldon is an immense artistic moment. The story of Oscar Wilde and his tales exemplifies the bold storytelling that we aim for within this company.”

The Nutcracker (Sir Peter Wright)

“The Nutcracker epitomizes the absolute beauty of classical ballet. The score is so deeply rich and full of magic and beauty. It truly takes the dancer and audiences on a trip through the mystery and magic of Clara’s Christmas Eve dream.Personally, the grand pas de deux in The Nutcracker was always a favourite of mine to dance.”

Source: The Australian Ballet