The Australian Ballet’s 2022 season, the second under artistic director David Hallberg, is a mix of both traditional and groundbreaking dance that brings together top choreographic names from around the world.
It opens with the company's new Anna Karenina, which premiered last year in Adelaide before the season was put on hold. A co-production with America’s Joffrey Ballet, choreographed by Russian-born Yuri Possokhov, it was lauded as “a triumph” by Dance Australia critic Maggie Tonkin. Melbourne Feb 25 – March 9 and Sydney April 5 – 23.
Next is Kunstkammer, an Australian premiere of a work by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot and originally created for the celebrated Netherlands Dance Theater. It will share a bill with a work by the sought-after Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite and German choreographer Marco Goecke. Sydney April 29 - May 14; Melbourne June 3 – 11.
Another Australian premiere will follow: the much anticipated Harlequinade, a lost Petipa ballet brought back to life by Alexei Ratmansky. Originally staged as Les Millions d’Arlequin in 1900, Ratmansky pieced it back together by decoding the original notation. Melbourne June 17-25.
Three ages of dance will be deliberately juxtaposed in "Counterpointe". The elegantly classical 19th century Raymonda, the boldly contemporary Artifact by William Forsythe and the 20th century classical Tchaikovsky Pas de deux, by George Balanchine, will showcase the dynamic progression of ballet as an artform. Adelaide July 7-13
"Instruments of Dance" brings together leading choreographers of the 21st century: Justin Peck, with Everywhere we Go, created in 2014 for the New York City Ballet, Wayne McGregor with his Obsidian Tear, a choreographic response to two violin works by the Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, and a brand new work by resident choreographer Alice Topp. Melbourne September 23 – October 1; Sydney November 10-26.
The year will end with Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, giving another generation of dancers the opportunity to explore the eponymous roles of the star-crossed lovers. Melbourne October 7 – 18; Sydney December 1- 21.
For more details, go here.