Ballet Theatre of Queensland
Ballet Theatre of Queensland, founded in 1937 by Phyllis Danaher MBE FRAD, is the oldest continuous dance company in Australia. Ballet Theatre is based in Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland. It exists to provide professional performance opportunities for young people and to influence and foster dancer for present and future generations.
History
Predating both the Australian Ballet and the Queensland Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Queensland was established by Phyllis Danaher to bring dance on a regular basis to people in Queensland. Prior to its inception, ballet had only been presented by touring companies such as that of the famous Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova on an irregular basis. Danaher was determined to change this state of affairs and to provide opportunities for talented Queenslanders to shine in this area of the performing arts. Today the company founded by Danaher continues to shine presenting one full-scale production per year not just at the Playhouse Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex at South Bank in Brisbane, but further afield at venues such as the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba.
Jodie-Anne White and Boris Bivona were appointed joint Artistic Directors in 2002.[1] Following White's death in 2012 they were succeeded by Timothy Brown and Libby McDonnell.[2]
Funding, organisational and artistic structures
Ballet Theatre of Queensland is a non-profit incorporated organisation and is run by a management committee led by President, Christine Spencer in conjunction with the Artistic Director. The organisation receives no recurrent or operational funding from the Australian or Queensland government. Ballet Theatre of Queensland relies purely on box office from its annual production, corporate sponsors and costume and set hire fees.
The Sleeping Princess highlighted the talents of dancers from twenty-four dance schools in Queensland. All dancers were required to take part in an audition process and are mainly aged between ten and eighteen. Invited artistes make up the remaining members of the company. Dancers with Ballet Theatre of Queensland undertake individual studies and Royal Academy of Dance examinations with their teachers. This provides the foundation for the fostering of talent that Ballet Theatre of Queensland prides itself on. Many young dancers have progressed from Ballet Theatre of Queensland to perform successfully in a range of fully professional ballet and dance companies.
Productions and equipment
In 2008, Ballet Theatre of Queensland presented performances of The Sleeping Princess in Brisbane and on tour in Toowoomba. Previous years have seen productions of Coppélia, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Pinnochio, Aladdin, Paquita and many others. As a result, a vast quantity of sets and costumes have been created which are available for hire by other performing arts groups.
References
- ↑ "Artistic Directors". Ballet Theatre of Queensland. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ↑ "Our Artistic Directors". Ballet Theatre of Queensland. Retrieved 5 September 2012.