Queensland Ballet pitches for AFL Grand Final

They say AFL is like ballet at times and Queensland Ballet’s artistic director Li Cunxin reckons that’s a good reason why his acclaimed company should be the arts entertainment of choice when the AFL Grand Final is held at The Gabba. SEE THE DETAILS

Queensland Ballet has launched an urgent bid to be the preferred arts entertainment at this year’s AFL Grand Final in Brisbane. A source reports that the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Queensland are also in the mix so this morning Queensland Ballet has upped the ante to be the company of choice to entertain fans at The Gabba.

Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO says it is an opportunity for AFL to make this year stand out.

“Having ballet as part of the Grand Final entertainment would really be a point of difference,” Mr Li says. “Queensland has a world class ballet company and I think we should be so proud of that.

Queensland Ballet’s artistic director Li Cunxin wants his dancers to entertain the crowds at the AFL grand final. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“We want to show off the athleticism of our dancers, which we think is mirrored in the game. We can clearly see the physical connection between ballet and AFL. Both require a high level of strength, athleticism and dedication to succeed at the highest level.”

Cunxin said he’d love the company to be part of the Grand Final.

“This is a historic moment for the State, and in Queensland Ballet’s 60th Anniversary year we’d be so proud to be involved,” he said.

Motivated by a training session with the Brisbane Lion’s, the company has pulled together a compilation video which they have sent on to the AFL CEO Gillian McLachlan and Gold Coast Sun’s ChairmanTonyCochrane,who was integral in securing the game for Queensland.

In AFL the big men fly and Queensland Ballet want to do the same at the AFL Grand Final – Lucy Green in Serenade as part of The Masters Series – Photo David Kelly

The tongue-in-cheek piece includes vision from the Lions training session, the football scene in the Company’s own production of Coppelia, and a reworked dance piece from this year’s show 60 Dancers: 60 Stories.

Li Cunxin said he’d love the company to be part of the Grand Final.

“This is a historic moment for the State, and in Queensland Ballet’s 60th Anniversary year we’d be so proud to be involved,” he said. And in the meantime, the company is barracking for the Lion’s to make Queensland’s Grand Final a homegrown success story.

To watch the video go to https://vimeo.com/456455251