For you: '60 dancers: 60 stories' from the Qld Ballet
Is life not surreal? If you told me three months ago that I would be curating 60 new dance works, filmed by Queensland Ballet’s dancers in isolation around Australia and the world, in collaboration with local and international musicians and artists, to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary year, I would have said, “you must be joking, mate!”
And yet, here we are. Balanced precariously, like a possum on a live wire, looking to keep our magic alive. QB’s 60 dancers: 60 stories is a collection of short dance films. Each work is one-to-two minutes long. They will be released in pairs from June 1 to 30 - and free to watch. Love is the theme, which is so necessary to share in our current untouching society. New creations make up the bulk of the program, complemented by injections of behind-the-scenes clips and repertoire with a twist. It is – to my knowledge – a world first. An unprecedented creative explosion, born out of these unusual times.
Most dancers have never choreographed or filmed dance before. Using only their own recording devices, editing software and whatever “costumes” they could find; made in true indie film spirit! Shot at their homes, or outside when COVID-19 restrictions eased. It must be said, a wonderful team of editing and choreographic mentors has supported the dancers, including QB’s resident choreographers, Natalie Weir and Jack Lister.
The music is arranged and performed, predominantly, by our music team . . . and a few musically talented dancers. Some touching international and local collaborations were also born, such as Victor Estevez, whose family in Cuba rushed to a recording studio after lockdown had eased and recorded his Ave Maria. Lucy Green and Samuel Packer used a London-based Australian composer, Peter Wilson, whose Prelude was penned during lockdown.
60 dancers: 60 stories for me is a narrative of struggle and determination against the odds, evocative of the Queensland spirit! It is about us wanting to connect and share our stories - of love - with our audience. This is QB’s way, of “keeping the magic alive”.
P.S. keep an eye out in 60 dancers: 60 stories for a special guest appearance by QB’s Artistic Director, Li Cunxin, who executes an unbelievable unvigintuple pirouette en dehors. Google it, that is a lot of "tuples"!
- MATTHEW LAWRENCE, Project Coordinator
60 Dancers: 60 Stories supports our overarching Keep the Magic Alive campaign. Any donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and will be quadrupled though the month of June thanks to a generous donor. Please visit https://www.queenslandballet.com.au/60-dancers-60-stories
And watch the first in the series, by Mia Heathcote, above.