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Queensland Ballet

October 24, 2023

Queensland Ballet, founded in 1960 by Charles Lisner OBE, is the premier ballet company of Queensland, Australia and is based in Brisbane. It is one of only three full-time, professional classical ballet companies in Australia. The Company has had 5 previous Artistic Directors, and is currently led by Chinese-born ballet star Li Cunxin AO.

Queensland Ballet
General information
NameQueensland Ballet
Previous namesLisner Ballet Company
Year founded1960
FoundersCharles Lisner, OBE
Principal venueThomas Dixon Centre,
West End, Brisbane,
Australia
Websitequeenslandballet.com.au
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorLi Cunxin
Assistant Artistic Director
Ballet Mistress


Ballet Masters
Music Director		Greg Horsman

Mary Li
Zenia Tatcheva
Jillian Vanstone
Matthew Lawrence
Nigel Gaynor
Other
Associated schoolsQueensland Ballet Academy
FormationPrincipal Artist
Senior Soloist
Soloist
First Company Artist
Company Artist
Young Artist

In 2023, the Company consists of 60 dancers, including 12 Jette Parker Young Artists.

History Edit

Charles Lisner (1960-1974) Edit

Queensland Ballet’s founding Artistic Director, Charles Lisner, trained with Edouard Borovansky and danced with the Borovansky Australian Ballet prior to traveling to London to continue his dance studies with the Sadlers Wells Ballet School. He later joined the Royal Ballet, Convent Garden. In 1953, Charles returned to Australia to open the Lisner Ballet Academy, which became the Lisner Ballet Company in 1960.[1] The Company was re-named Queensland Ballet in 1962 and became one of the first ballet ensembles in Australia to tour regionally, a commitment that continues today.[2]

Harry Haythorne (1974-1978) Edit

Lisner stepped down as Artistic Director in 1974 and was replaced by Harry Haythorne, who was previously Assistant Director of the Scottish ballet. During his tenure, Haythorne presented works by Australian choreographers including Graeme Murphy, Garth Welch, and Don Asker, and had Hans Brenaa stage La Syphide and other Bournoville ballets.[3] His contract with the Company ended in 1978.

Harold Collins (1978-1997) Edit

A former Principal Dancer of Queensland Ballet, Harold Collins was appointed Artistic Director in 1978, and led the Company until his retirement in 1997. During that time, he presented memorable productions, among them Jacqui Carroll's Scheherazade and Collin's Salome. Following Lisner's vision, Collins continued to commission new Australian works in contemporary and classical styles, and forged the enduring relationship between Queensland Ballet and the Queensland Dance School of Excellence.

Francois Klaus (1998-2012) Edit

François Klaus was appointed Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer of Queensland Ballet in 1988. Over fifteen years, Klaus contributed nearly 100 new ballet works to the Company's repertoire, from new productions of classic ballets to works designed especially to appeal to families. Included in his repertoire is the immensely popular Cloudland, a tribute to Brisbane's post-war era set in the once famous Cloudland Ballroom.

Under his directorship, Queensland Ballet undertook three tours to Europe (2006, 2007, and 2009), to great public an critical acclaim. The Company also toured to Singapore in March 2007, Japan in 2009, and China in 2011 to perform Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid.

During his tenure, Klaus also established training programs which are now an integral part of the Company's operations, providing pathways for talented young people who are committed to a career in dance.

Li Cunxin AO (2013-present) Edit

In 2012, Li Cunxin AO, acclaimed former dancer and author of the best-selling autobiography, Mao's Last Dancer, was appointed as the new Artistic Director. Having no desire to choreograph himself, Li became the first "curatorial" director in the Company's history.

Li has been recognised for his dedication and commitment to growing the size and caliber of the Company, having programmed adventurous works into their repertoire, incorporated additional international tours, and founding the development of the Queensland Ballet Academy and Thomas Dixon Centre.

In August 2015, the Company performed Peter Schaufuss' La Syphide at the London Coliseum.

In November 2018, they embarked on a China tour, performing Liam Scarlett's A Midsummer Night's Dream to audiences in Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, and Xi'an.

Li announced his retirement in June 2023, and an international search for his replacement begun immediately.

Performances Edit

Queensland Ballet presents a vast repertoire of dance works each year. The Company averages on 6 main stage productions per season, in addition to smaller, more intimate performances and regional tours. They have performed Ben Stevenson OBE’s The Nutcracker annually since 2013. The Company regularly performs at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) as well as in the Talbot Theatre at the Thomas Dixon Centre.

Dancers Edit

List of Queensland Ballet dancers, as of 2023:[4]

Principal Artists Edit

Senior Soloists Edit

  • Chiara Gonzalez
  • Kohei Iwamoto

Soloists Edit

  • Vito Bernasconi
  • Lina Kim
  • Georgia Swan
  • Laura Tosar

First Company Artist Edit

  • D'Arcy Brazier
  • Liam Geck
  • Vanessa Morelli
  • LIbby-Rose Niederer
  • David Power
  • Rian Thompson

Company Artists Edit

  • Luca Armstrong
  • Mali Comlekci
  • Shaun Curtis
  • Luke DiMattina
  • Lewis Formby
  • Clayton Forsyth
  • Heidi Freeman
  • Renee Freeman
  • Ines Hargreaves
  • Kaho Kato
  • Bronte Kielly-Coleman
  • Dylan Lackey
  • Callum Mackie
  • Edison Manuel
  • Briana McAllen
  • Amber Mitchell-Knight
  • Frederick Montgomery
  • Joshua Ostermann
  • Brooke Ray
  • Paige Rochester
  • Leisel Rose
  • Jessica Stratton-Smith
  • Isabella Swietlicki
  • Ari Thompson
  • Kayla Van Den Bogert

Jette Parker Young Artists Edit

  • Shanti Barlow
  • Indi Drew
  • Josh Fagan
  • Sean Ferenczi
  • Taron Geyl
  • James McDonell
  • Joseph Moss
  • Hana Nonaka Aillon
  • Alisa Pukkinen
  • Tom Umseher
  • Eliza Wenham
  • Mia Zanardo

References Edit

  1. ^ Scott, Joanne, "Lisner, Charles Maurice (1928–1988)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 11 August 2023
  2. ^ "Queensland Ballet ticket information". Queensland Ballet. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Harry Haythorne (1926–2014)". Michelle Potter. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Dancers- Queensland Ballet". Queensland Ballet. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

External links Edit

  • Official website

October 24, 2023
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template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Queensland Ballet founded in 1960 by Charles Lisner OBE is the premier ballet company of Queensland Australia and is based in Brisbane It is one of only three full time professional classical ballet companies in Australia The Company has had 5 previous Artistic Directors and is currently led by Chinese born ballet star Li Cunxin AO Queensland BalletGeneral informationNameQueensland BalletPrevious namesLisner Ballet CompanyYear founded1960FoundersCharles Lisner OBEPrincipal venueThomas Dixon Centre West End Brisbane AustraliaWebsitequeenslandballet com auArtistic staffArtistic DirectorLi CunxinAssistant Artistic Director Ballet Mistress Ballet Masters Music DirectorGreg Horsman Mary Li Zenia Tatcheva Jillian Vanstone Matthew Lawrence Nigel GaynorOtherAssociated schoolsQueensland Ballet AcademyFormationPrincipal Artist Senior Soloist Soloist First Company Artist Company Artist Young ArtistIn 2023 the Company consists of 60 dancers including 12 Jette Parker Young Artists Contents 1 History 1 1 Charles Lisner 1960 1974 1 2 Harry Haythorne 1974 1978 1 3 Harold Collins 1978 1997 1 4 Francois Klaus 1998 2012 1 5 Li Cunxin AO 2013 present 2 Performances 3 Dancers 3 1 Principal Artists 3 2 Senior Soloists 3 3 Soloists 3 4 First Company Artist 3 5 Company Artists 3 6 Jette Parker Young Artists 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditCharles Lisner 1960 1974 Edit Queensland Ballet s founding Artistic Director Charles Lisner trained with Edouard Borovansky and danced with the Borovansky Australian Ballet prior to traveling to London to continue his dance studies with the Sadlers Wells Ballet School He later joined the Royal Ballet Convent Garden In 1953 Charles returned to Australia to open the Lisner Ballet Academy which became the Lisner Ballet Company in 1960 1 The Company was re named Queensland Ballet in 1962 and became one of the first ballet ensembles in Australia to tour regionally a commitment that continues today 2 Harry Haythorne 1974 1978 Edit Lisner stepped down as Artistic Director in 1974 and was replaced by Harry Haythorne who was previously Assistant Director of the Scottish ballet During his tenure Haythorne presented works by Australian choreographers including Graeme Murphy Garth Welch and Don Asker and had Hans Brenaa stage La Syphide and other Bournoville ballets 3 His contract with the Company ended in 1978 Harold Collins 1978 1997 Edit A former Principal Dancer of Queensland Ballet Harold Collins was appointed Artistic Director in 1978 and led the Company until his retirement in 1997 During that time he presented memorable productions among them Jacqui Carroll s Scheherazade and Collin s Salome Following Lisner s vision Collins continued to commission new Australian works in contemporary and classical styles and forged the enduring relationship between Queensland Ballet and the Queensland Dance School of Excellence Francois Klaus 1998 2012 Edit Francois Klaus was appointed Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer of Queensland Ballet in 1988 Over fifteen years Klaus contributed nearly 100 new ballet works to the Company s repertoire from new productions of classic ballets to works designed especially to appeal to families Included in his repertoire is the immensely popular Cloudland a tribute to Brisbane s post war era set in the once famous Cloudland Ballroom Under his directorship Queensland Ballet undertook three tours to Europe 2006 2007 and 2009 to great public an critical acclaim The Company also toured to Singapore in March 2007 Japan in 2009 and China in 2011 to perform Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid During his tenure Klaus also established training programs which are now an integral part of the Company s operations providing pathways for talented young people who are committed to a career in dance Li Cunxin AO 2013 present Edit In 2012 Li Cunxin AO acclaimed former dancer and author of the best selling autobiography Mao s Last Dancer was appointed as the new Artistic Director Having no desire to choreograph himself Li became the first curatorial director in the Company s history Li has been recognised for his dedication and commitment to growing the size and caliber of the Company having programmed adventurous works into their repertoire incorporated additional international tours and founding the development of the Queensland Ballet Academy and Thomas Dixon Centre In August 2015 the Company performed Peter Schaufuss La Syphide at the London Coliseum In November 2018 they embarked on a China tour performing Liam Scarlett s A Midsummer Night s Dream to audiences in Shanghai Suzhou Beijing and Xi an Li announced his retirement in June 2023 and an international search for his replacement begun immediately Performances EditQueensland Ballet presents a vast repertoire of dance works each year The Company averages on 6 main stage productions per season in addition to smaller more intimate performances and regional tours They have performed Ben Stevenson OBE s The Nutcracker annually since 2013 The Company regularly performs at Queensland Performing Arts Centre QPAC as well as in the Talbot Theatre at the Thomas Dixon Centre Dancers EditList of Queensland Ballet dancers as of 2023 4 Principal Artists Edit Name Nationality Training Other companiesVictor Estevez nbsp Cuba Cuban National Ballet School National Ballet of CubaLucy Green nbsp Australia Victorian College of the Arts Royal New Zealand BalletMia Heathcote nbsp Australia The Australian Ballet SchoolAlexander Idaszak nbsp Australia The Australian Ballet SchoolYanela Pinera nbsp Cuba Cuban National Ballet School National Ballet of CubaPatricio Reve nbsp Cuba Cuban National Ballet School National Ballet of CubaJoel Woellner nbsp Australia Houston Ballet s Ben Stevenson Academy Houston BalletNeneka Yoshida nbsp Japan Fundacion para la Danza Spain Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de ParisSenior Soloists Edit Chiara Gonzalez Kohei Iwamoto Soloists Edit Vito Bernasconi Lina Kim Georgia Swan Laura Tosar First Company Artist Edit D Arcy Brazier Liam Geck Vanessa Morelli LIbby Rose Niederer David Power Rian Thompson Company Artists Edit Luca Armstrong Mali Comlekci Shaun Curtis Luke DiMattina Lewis Formby Clayton Forsyth Heidi Freeman Renee Freeman Ines Hargreaves Kaho Kato Bronte Kielly Coleman Dylan Lackey Callum Mackie Edison Manuel Briana McAllen Amber Mitchell Knight Frederick Montgomery Joshua Ostermann Brooke Ray Paige Rochester Leisel Rose Jessica Stratton Smith Isabella Swietlicki Ari Thompson Kayla Van Den Bogert Jette Parker Young Artists Edit Shanti Barlow Indi Drew Josh Fagan Sean Ferenczi Taron Geyl James McDonell Joseph Moss Hana Nonaka Aillon Alisa Pukkinen Tom Umseher Eliza Wenham Mia ZanardoReferences Edit Scott Joanne Lisner Charles Maurice 1928 1988 Australian Dictionary of Biography Canberra National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 11 August 2023 Queensland Ballet ticket information Queensland Ballet Retrieved 10 August 2023 Harry Haythorne 1926 2014 Michelle Potter 25 November 2014 Retrieved 10 August 2023 Dancers Queensland Ballet Queensland Ballet Retrieved 2 February 2021 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Queensland Ballet amp oldid 1180588715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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