Queensland Ballet (QB)is thrilled to announce that Liam Scarlett will join the company from 2017 as an artistic associate in addition to his role as artist in residence with the Royal Ballet.
Liam Scarlett danced with the Royal Ballet before retiring as a dancer in 2013 to focus on choreography, whereupon he was appointed the Royal Ballet’s first artist in residence. His works for the Royal Ballet include Asphodel Meadows, The Age of Anxiety and Frankenstein. He has also created ballets for English National Ballet, New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Royal New Zealand Ballet and Queensland Ballet.
In April 2016 QB performed Scarlett’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He will return to Brisbane in March 2017 for the company’s “Raw” triple bill which will include No Man’s Land, a work created by him for the English National Ballet and Queensland Ballet.
"I really felt a special connection with Li and his dancers during Dream and that's one of the reasons I've taken on this role as artistic associate," says Scarlett. "This is a ballet company with world-class dancers, big ambitions, a commitment to excellence and a desire to push the boundaries and that's an exciting creative environment to work in. I’m humbled by the company's belief in my work and am looking forward to many new creative moments with the Queensland Ballet dancers and team."
“Liam is an extraordinary choreographer whose musicality and creativity has been lauded throughout the ballet world since he started creating ballets for The Royal Ballet,” says QB artistic director Li Cunxin. “He is an original thinker, a wonderful collaborator, an innovator and a storyteller who creates incredible ballets that transport the audience to other worlds. He’s in such demand throughout the world for his ballet creations so it’s a huge coup for us to have Liam as an artistic associate. This position will mean he’ll create new works on the company and we’ll also perform some of his existing productions over the coming years."