Queensland Ballet presents a whole month of romantic ballet online
They may have postponed season 2020 until next year but the dancing hasn’t stopped for Queensland Ballet, and the company is offering a feast of dance over the next month with 60 dancers and 60 brief ballets on the theme of love for our online entertainment.
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FINDING out that Queensland Ballet’s season 2020 has been put off until next year was a crushing blow but here’s some good news - a month of gorgeous dance online from our state company.
Created in response to these extraordinary times, Queensland Ballet is premiering a new body of work, 60 Dancers, 60 Stories and it starts today with two ballets a day for the next 30 days.
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In their 60th year, Queensland Ballet’s 60 talented artists have created 60 new works based on the theme of love to engage and inspire.
Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin said the works were born out a desire to express love and gratitude to ballet fans and a wish by the dancers to show their appreciation for all the support and encouragement they have received during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Each of these new pieces have been conceptualised, choreographed, performed and filmed by our dancers to create a body of works that is truly inspiring, imaginative, authentic and original,” Mr Li said.
“While the world has changed in ways that we couldn’t imagine, there is one thing we can be sure of – now
more than ever – is that art must prevail.”
60 dancers: 60 stories will unveil two videos daily on Queensland Ballet’s social channels during the month of June. Project co-ordinator and QB Ballet Master, Matthew Lawrence said it is a world first.
“A project of this scale, 60 new works, with multiple collaborations, both local and international – has never been attempted before, to this scale in a dance company, “ Mr Lawrence said. “It is an explosion of creativity, based around our push to survive as an organisation, intact, and connect with our audiences.
“’60 dancers: 60 stories, for me, is a narrative of struggle, determination and success against the odds,
evocative of the Queensland spirit. It’s s story of dancers creating wonderful and engaging pieces, from their homes, or outdoor environments, with no budget and limited resources at their disposal. Most dancers, prior to this project, had never choreographed or filmed dance before, and their accomplishment is testament to the wonderful musical, choreographic, and editing mentors, who supported the dancers in producing some outstanding works of art.”
Unique to the project is the variety of locations where dancers were creating and collaborating, from
interstate, across the Tasman and worldwide. Dancer Victor Estevez worked with his family in Cuba, who played and recorded the music especially for his piece. Lucy Green and Samuel Packer worked with UK based, Australian born composer, Peter Wilson. While Paige Rochester and Mali Comlekci used a work by young Australian composer George Bokaris. There are also original compositions by QB’s music team and dancers.
When COVID-19 hit, the company decided it was best to halt all partner work except for couples within the
company. Taking advantage of this loophole Principal Artist Victor Estevez and Senior Soloist Mia Heathcote, who are in a relationship, worked together to create a work set to Ave Maria.
Heathcote said she’d never considered choreography before but now considers it something she’d like to
develop.
“Everyone thinks and expresses so differently, but that was also the beauty of this process, it pushed us out of our comfort zone and made us work and think with a different perspective than what we are used to,” Ms Heathcote said. “It meant a lot to us to create something having in mind the closest people in our hearts.”
Queensland Ballet made a promise to its supporters with its Keep the Magic Alive program, to entertain everyday with stories, content, and community programs. From that promise a campaign was born and with it a pledge by the company to look after its dancers and staff during the downturn. Li Cunxin said that to support Queensland Ballet’s efforts an anonymous donor has offered to quadruple donations made during the month of June.
“We hope to reach our target of a million dollars before June 30,” he said. “We think it is achievable with our match donor’s generous offer. Just think, a $25 donation from the public equates to $100, which the Queensland Ballet can use to Keep the Magic alive in 2020, and plan for a strong return in 2021.”
Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and will go directly to keeping dancers and staff teams employed.
For more information or to donate please - keepthemagicalive.com.au
To view visit Queensland Ballet’s Facebook and Instagram channels or
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