Melbourne Dance Theatre (MDT) has officially relaunched itself as the Victorian State Ballet.
The directors, Michelle and Martin Sierra, announced the company's new name at a special gala performance on Friday November 28 at the Karralyka Theatre in Ringwood, in Melbourne's east.
MDT has been in existence since 2003, beginning on a mostly pro-am basis. However, over time the seasons have been going "exceptionally well", according to Michelle Sierra, and the couple has been able to give paid employment to an increasing number of professional dancers for increasing lengths of time. Last year MDT paid 16 dancers on 6 to 8 week contracts. Sierra expects to employ 15 dancers and two apprentices on season contracts next year.
Among them are four principal artists – Robyn Begg (formerly of the West Australian and Queensland Ballet companies), Katie Hurst-Saxton (formerly of the Royal New Zealand Ballet), Michael Braun (who has performed both in Australia and overseas) and Jack Gibbs (Queensland Ballet). (See below for the full lineup.)
Given the company's ongoing success, the directors felt the new name better reflects its ambitions. It will also help distinguish the company from the two other Melbourne-based classical companies: Melbourne Ballet Company and Melbourne City Ballet.
As the directors of the Victorian State Ballet, the Sierras intend to present "outstanding classical ballet repertoire and innovative contemporary dance works”. Next year's season reflects just that, with three full length ballets and some shorter new ballets in the mix. They include Don Quixote, Cinderella and The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Concerto by Michelle Sierra and Tango by Martin Sierra and a children's season of La Boutique Fantasque. Venues include The Drum Theatre in Dandenong, Darebin Arts Centre in Preston, the Plenty Ranges Performing Arts Centre, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre and the Karralyka Theatre, which is a frequent venue for the company and sponsored this launch. The company will also travel interstate to Adelaide for a season at the Holden Street Theatre and to the Princess Theatre in Hobart. Negotiations are afoot with the performing arts centres in Warrnambool and Benalla in Victoria.
The gala performance gave audiences a taste of things to come, with performances of showpiece pas de deux from Giselle, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act 3 and Don Quixote, as well as sneak previews of Concerto and Tango, both ensemble pieces. Company dancers were augmented by guest artists Kristy Lee Denovan and Joanna Lee.
The directors vision is to become "the central hub for dance in the State of Victoria”. “Our commitment is to connect people and dance across Victoria through a program of beautiful, exciting and challenging works, collaborating with leading artists and organisations," they say in their mission statement.
VICTORIAN STATE BALLET
Dancers 2016
Robyn Begg (Principal Artist)
Katie Hurst-Saxton (Principal Artist)
Michael Braun (Principal Artist)
Jack Gibbs (Principal Artist)
Rebekah Petty Senior Artist – (WA Ballet Company, Melbourne Ballet Company)
Melissa Wilson Senior Artist – (MDT Company)
Masha Peker Soloist – (MDT & Melbourne Ballet Company)
Alana Puddy Soloist – (MDT Company)
Elise Watson Lord Soloist – (MDT Company)
Johanna Lee Soloist – (Sydney Dance Company, Melbourne Ballet Company)
Emily Luxton Corps de ballet – (WA Ballet Company)
Karley Spence Corps de ballet – (MDT Company, WAPPA)
Emily King Corps de Ballet – (VCASS, WAPPA)
Katie Lin-Musson Corps de Ballet – (NZ School of Dance)
Kelsey Sparks Apprentice – (NZ School of Dance)
Pictured are Masha Peker and Michael Braun
Photo: MICHAEL LEAN