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Australian Ballet in 2014: Dancers-to-watch, etc.?


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To any & all who may be familiar with the Australian Ballet:

I have the good fortune of being posted to Sydney by my employer during the October/November/early-December 2014 timeframe. Although I'm aware of the Australian Ballet's fine website (www.australianballet.com.au ), I was wondering if any of our Australian members can offer insights on their favorite current principals and soloists, the 'Australian Style,' favorite productions, etc. It looks like Bayadere and Nutcracker will be on tap in the Sydney Opera House during my work-visit. I'll probably see a couple of casts in each, depending on which dancers I should not miss.

I also love to rummage in used-book stores when working in a new city & was wondering if anyone may recommend one or two good shops to visit in Sydney, especially those that have old ballet/dance books.

All tips welcome! :)

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I rarely get to see the Australian Ballet these days (moved to Brisbane and they rarely tour here and I haven't spent much time in Syd/Melb in recent years) but the tiny Amber Scott is really lovely, you should see her if you can. However, Aus ballet website says casting is only available one hour before show, so chance of getting a good ticket is unfortunately greatly diminished if you have to wait until then!

Unfortunately I have no idea on the bookstores- I've bought nearly all of my ballet books overseas. Hope you find something, and have a wonderful time in Sydney :)

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Thanks, amiaow. I've since been told that Gould's Books in Sydney is a treasure-trove of vintage books, including ballet, because of the great interest in the subject during the 1930s and 40s tours by Ballet Russes and related troupes. There are several in Melbourne, too, where I'll begin the work. Friend is sending full list, which I'll be happy to share here.

The former 'British Empire' - English-speaking locales - is usually a great place to find books and ballet memorabilia. A great part of my collection was purchased in, of all places, Jo'burgh and Pretoria, South Africa, when I worked there for 4 months a few years back. There were (are?) at least a dozen large used-book shops in Jo'burgh where I found, for example, lots of Arnold Haskell books, Serge Lido photo books, the full collection of Ballet Annuals, and so on, all at a fraction of asking-prices in Argosy-NY or the old Cecil Court shop in London.

Taking an empty suitcase just for this. :)

I also *must* nab a copy of Luminous - the 20-ton coffee-table tome published a couple of years ago for the AB's 50th anniversary.

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Luminous is wonderful- and heavy! Great idea on that extra suitcase.

I look forward to hearing about which bookstores to shop at via your friend- I'm spending a weekend in Sydney with my sister in a couple of months and have a day free for shopping while she's at work. This could get dangerous! ;)

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Gillian Murphy was sublime as Nikiya in the Nov. 22 evening performance of La Bayadere in Sydney. Murphy displayed extraordinarily beautiful line, especially her first arabesques during adagios in all three acts. Kevin Jackson offered perfect support as Solor, while Laura Tong was a frisky Gamzatti with very high jetes in the betrothal scene....but partnered by her father, the Rajah. (One of many quirks in this version by Stanton Welch.)

The most delightful surprise of the night, though, was the magnificent 3rd Shade of soloist Robyn Hendricks, with steady unfurling developes. The finest execution of this solo since ABT's Michele Wiles, that I recall. I can now claim to have seen Bayadere live on six continents during the span of 30+ years. :)

Unless Antarctica spawns a ballet troupe, my 'ballet continents' should remain six.

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I can now claim to have seen Bayadere live on six continents during the span of 30+ years. :)

Now that's a very unusual distinction!

I'm still in awe of this and have pulled out my souvenir programmes from Pretoria RSA (back when they focused on classics),Teatro Colon-Buenos Aires, NB China-Beijing, ABT-NYC and Mariinsky-St. P-Russia...and now the AusBallet in Sydney. I feel so lucky. Thanks to the wonderful world of BALLET!

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