Queensland Ballet has announced its 2018 line-up. Entitled “For Every Dreamer”, the season has an emphasis on story ballets and fantasies.
The first production for the year will be a new production of La Bayadere by Greg Horsman. “Audiences will be transported and transfixed by this ballet, caught up in a whirlwind of love, drama, dreamlike scenes and family politics,” promises QB artistic director Li Cunxin.
“Following on from this lush classic will be one of the most fiery seasons we’ve ever brought to the stage as our double bill of Carmen and Firebird opens in May,” he continues. “We’re thrilled to be staging Carlos Acosta’s production of Carmen and Liam Scarlett’s Firebird for Brisbane audiences in this powerful double bill.”
In September the company will remount Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella. “Ben Stevenson’s productions always bring a story to life so vividly and this Cinderella is no exception. The choreography is exquisite, the costumes and sets delightful and the characters consistently engaging. Audiences will love it,” comments Li.
2017 saw the launch of QB’s inaugural "Bespoke season", which will return to the Brisbane Powerhouse in November. “'Bespoke' provides us with an opportunity to invite guest choreographers to not only create new works on our dancers but to also collaborate with other art forms to bring new dimensions to ballet,” says Li. ”Next year’s season will feature new works by Company Artist Jack Lister, guest choreographer Gabrielle Nankivell and another artist yet to be announced as well as a collaboration with Expressions Dance Company.”
As has become traditional, the company will celebrate the Christmas season with Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker.
In addition to its Brisbane program, QB will take Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake on tour through regional Queensland in June and July, while October will see the company travel to Melbourne to perform Liam Scarlett’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
For more information head to www.queenslandballet.com.au.
Photos: Justin Ridler.