After ten years serving as Artistic Director of West Australian Ballet (WAB) Aurélien Scannella will leave at the end of the 2023 season. Upon reflection of his time at WAB, Aurélien comments: “I am proud of what my team and I have accomplished with the Company over the past ten years. I am especially proud of my dancers, who have all performed unsparingly and generously with their hearts and souls. They shared my goal to bring the highest technical standard to the forefront that enabled the Company to claim success. The time has come for me to leverage my wonderful experience here at WAB and to go forward looking for a bigger challenge in the ballet world”.
Chair Ingrid Puzey has acknowledged Aurélien’s achievements during his tenure saying “On behalf of the Board, we thank Aurélien for his significant contribution to WAB over the past decade. His ambition and tenacity have made the Company what it is today and created a legacy of artistic vibrancy for future Seasons.”
As Aurélien departs, WAB is delighted to announce its 2024 Guest Artistic Director, David McAllister AC.
McAllister is a well-known Australian ballet dancer, director and choreographer, who served as the Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet Company for 20 years, from 2001 to 2020. Perth-born McAllister originally trained in Western Australia, before joining the Australian Ballet (AB) in 1983. Rising to the rank of Principal in 1989, David danced many leading roles with the AB before moving into artistic management. Earlier this year McAllister was appointed interim Artistic Director of Royal New Zealand Ballet until the company successfully contracts a new Artistic Director.
David McAllister comments: “I am very honoured to be given this opportunity to return to Perth and spend the year with West Australian Ballet. I look forward to working with the company that shaped my early years in ballet”.