Science and ballet unite in a joyful pas de deux

Medical research may not have much to do with classical ballet, but scientist Ian Frazer can see a connection in the talent and dedication required to make a career in each discipline.

Ian Frazer and wife Caroline in studio 4 at the restored Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane with Queensland Ballet dancers Callum Mackie and Chiara Gonzalez. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

At first glance, medical research may not have much to do with classical ballet, but scientist Ian Frazer can see a connection in the talent and dedication required to make a career in each discipline.

Professor Frazer and his wife, Caroline, are among donors who collectively have given $26m to the Queensland Ballet to restore and enlarge its studios at the Thomas Dixon Centre, Brisbane.

Opening on Wednesday, the $100m facility includes a 350-seat theatre with a full-size stage, six dance studios, wardrobe and production workshops, a rooftop terrace and cafe.

Professor Frazer, who helped develop the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer, said he had given $500,000 to the Thomas Dixon Centre through his family foundation, which supports education in science and the performing arts.

“We are really keen to see the next generation of young scientists and young artists get the opportunity that they need to get there,” he said on Monday.

“It’s the same in science as it is in the performing arts – it’s a hard career path to follow, and there are many people who don’t make it, although they have very strong intentions to do so.

“Giving them the opportunity to do that is really important for them, and also for society – because we need good scientists and we need good performing artists. They improve society.”

Other donors to the Thomas Dixon Centre include the Ian Potter Foundation, the Ken Talbot Foundation, Tim and Gina Fairfax, Kay van Norton Poche and Gina Rinehart. The state and federal governments also made significant contributions.

Charles Goode, chairman of the Ian Potter Foundation, said the Melbourne-based foundation’s $8m donation was one of the largest it had given to the arts, and the largest to a Queensland organisation.

Restoring the Thomas Dixon Centre has been an ambition for QB artistic director Li Cunxin since he joined the company a decade ago.

“There are not many performing arts companies that have the bold enough dream to do something like this,” Li said.

“It will really propel us to another level. This will serve as a catalyst for us to be even more ­aspirational.”

Professor Frazer said he was impressed with the work done at the Thomas Dixon Centre, a ­former shoe factory that has been QB’s home since 1991. The heritage building has been restored and new facilities built around it.

“This is a whole level beyond what was there before,” he said.

“It provides far better facilities for the dancers and for the company as a whole. And it’s aesthetically very pleasing.”

The refurbished building will open on Wednesday with ­Bespoke, a triple bill of new dance works for the Queensland Ballet by Greg Horsman, Petros Treklis and Stephanie Lake.