Australian Ballet returns with ‘under the stars’ arena spectacular

The Australian Ballet returns to the stage in 2021 with an open-air spectacular at an unlikely Melbourne venue.

The Australian Ballet will return to the stage in 2021 with a spectacular open-air concert at Margaret Court Arena in February. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Australian Ballet will make a triumphant return to the stage in 2021 with an open air spectacular at Margaret Court Arena in February.

Summertime at the Ballet, which is part of the company’s 2021 program, will be held under the summer night’s sky at the Melbourne Park space.

The Australian Ballet’s artistic director David Hallberg said the arena show aims to take ballet to the masses.

“There’s nothing like live art,” he said. “It’s like live AFL. You can watch on on TV, but everyone loves going to the stadium.”

The repertoire for Summertime at the Ballet includes excerts from Marius Petipa’s La Bayadère, Tim Harbour’s Filigree and Shadow, Steven Baynes’ Molto Vivace, George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux and Themes and Variations, Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote, Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow and Lucas Jervies’ Spartacus.

Ballerinas Sophie Morgan, Corey Herbert, Lisa Craig and Imogen Chapman prepare for the summer season. Picture: Alex Coppel

The 2021 program also includes a new ballet of Leo Tolstoy’s classic tragedy Anna Karenina, marking the Australian Ballet’s first co-production with Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet.

Anna Karenina will debut in Melbourne in June.

John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, premiered by The Australian Ballet in 1974, will return for performances in August.

Mr Hallberg said COVID-19 restrictions were challenging for the company.

“The dancers had to stay in shape in their homes, and they had to take daily class in their lounge rooms and garages,” he said.

“Their physical upkeep drastically changed and it was really hard for them. It was really hard to stay in shape, it was really hard to not rehearse, to not perform, but we’re getting out the other end, which is reassuring.”

The company’s executive director Libby Christie said: “The Australian Ballet is optimistic about the future. While 2020 has been disappointing and full of challenges, The Australian Ballet’s 2021 season has been carefully planned to bring ballet back to the nation’s stages safely and with renewed vigour and passion.”

Mt Hallberg, a former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, moved to Melbourne from New York earlier this week.
His role as the Australian ballet’s artistic director officially starts in January.