Australian Ballet’s free ‘Ballet Under the Stars’ event in western Sydney

SWAN Lake will literally be performed on a lake when The Australian Ballet’s free outdoor show arrives at Penrith International Regatta Centre this weekend.

• Scientist seeks out mystery in art
• Kids flying high in hospital
• Amber Scott soars in Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake

PENRITH’S International Regatta Centre will be a flurry of tutus this weekend, when The Australian Ballet pirouettes and leaps into town.

Artistic director David McAllister told the Penrith Press a pas de deux (dance duet) based on Spartacus was being choreographed by Lucas Gervais especially for the free event in Penrith on Saturday, November 5.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres launching the Ballet Under the Stars program, with dancers from The Australian Ballet, at Sydney International Regatta Centre in May.

Little ballerinas from Emu Plains’ You Can Dance Performing Arts School, Mia Langmaid (left) and Lily Galloway-Smith, got to meet Jessica Wood of The Australian Ballet at the Ballet Under the Stars launch.

He said ballerinas will also perform Act II of Stephen Bayne’s Swan Lake, “based on a lake”, and four more pas de deux.

“The stage will be built around the (launch) pontoons,” Mr McAllister said, adding “there was talk of the dancers on the water ... but they need a firm surface”.

Stephen Baynes’ traditional production of Swan Lake was commissioned in 2012 for The Australian Ballet’s 50th anniversary. Picture: Kate Longley

Dancers from The Australian Ballet at the launch of Ballet Under the Stars at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

Montana Ruben, a delicate 19-year-old ballerina in white satin slippers and a beautiful tutu, spoke of her excitement over returning to Penrith — this time as part of the corps de ballet performing in Swan Lake.

“It will be my first outdoor performance,” she said.

Last year Ms Ruben performed in The Australian Ballet’s Storytime Ballet production of Sleeping Beauty at Penrith Panthers.

Ballerina Montana Rubin pictured by the Nepean River in Emu Plains ahead of The Australian Ballet’s Penrith event. Picture: Dylan Robinson

The Australian Ballet’s Jessica Wood with Mia Langmaid, of Penrith, at Sydney International Regatta Centre in May. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

Under an arrangement secured by the NSW Government, The Australian Ballet’s annual free outdoor community program, Ballet Under the Stars, will be presented exclusively in Penrith for the next three years, potentially injecting over $1.3 million into the local visitor economy.

“More than 12,000 people have registered to attend what is sure to be a spectacular evening of world class ballet,” Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said.

Ballerina Montana Rubin is pictured on the Nepean River foreshore at Emu Plains ahead of The Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake performance, part of Ballet Under the Stars. Picture: Dylan Robinson

The Australian Ballet’s 80 dancers will perform Act II of Stephen Bayne’s production of Swan Lake at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith this Saturday. Picture: Chris Pavlich

“To have Australia’s premier ballet company performing in a magnificent free outdoor event in Penrith is a real coup for western Sydney.”

Mr McCallister said The Australian Ballet would also be at Penrith Panthers on January 15-17 to perform its next Storytime Ballet: The Nutcracker.

“It’s wonderful to be able to bring another production to our youngest ballet fans,” he said.