Australian Ballet introduces DanceX

5 July 2021

ADT's 'The Beginning of Nature' is one of the works that will be performed in 'DanceX'. Photo: Juan Diego Castillo.

Dance companies from around Australia will come together at Arts Centre Melbourne in September to perform in a unique festival conceived and curated by the Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg.

Called DanceX, the festival will comprise eight companies – The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc, Australian Dance Theatre, Queensland Ballet and West Australian Ballet. Each will perform the repertoire of their choice in four shows over two programs from September 24 to 27 and September 30 to October 2.

DanceX will present a unique opportunity to experience the nation’s top classical and contemporary dance companies performing selected works which showcase the depth and diversity of the artform in Australia. This new venture signals Hallberg’s determination to engage with Australian audiences and the dance community through innovative contemporary ideas and collaborations.

“DanceX shows just how deeply rich the dance community is in Australia,” he says. “Through the companies involved, this festival highlights the many different styles of dance across some of the nation’s most important cultural leaders . . .”

The program will have the added highlight of three premieres. The Australian Ballet will be presenting the Australian premiere of Johan Inger’s comic, romantic dance theatre piece I New Then, set to songs by Van Morrison. Inger is a Swedish choreographer who danced with Netherlands Dance Theatre and has made works for leading companies all over Europe.

The company is also commissioning a new work each by Melbourne-based Lucy Guerin Inc and Chunky Move.

PROGRAM ONE
24 – 27 SEPTEMBER

Bangarra: Ochres and Walkabout (choreographed by Stephen Page and Bernadette Walong)
Queensland Ballet, Glass Concerto (Greg Horsman)
Sydney Dance Company, ab[intra] (Rafael Bonachela)
Lucy Guerin Inc, How To Be Us (Lucy Guerin)
The Australian Ballet, I New Then(Johan Inger)

PROGRAM TWO
30 September – 2 October

Australian Dance Theatre, The Beginning of Nature (Garry Stewart)
West Australian Ballet, 4Seasons (Natalie Weir)
Chunky Move, AB_TA_Response
The Australian Ballet, I New Then (Johan Inger)Both seasons will be beld at the State Theatre.

For full details and tickets go here.