International Ballet Workshops is once again bringing an elite classical teacher to Australia and New Zealand. The Summer 2017 Giselle series tours in January to Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Sydney, Hobart and Auckland, with this year’s guest teacher, Anthony Taylor (England, Germany).
Anthony Taylor. Photo courtesy of Taylor.
A former principal dancer and the Director of Ballet Koblenz for 29 years, Taylor is now resident classical teacher at Tanzcompagnie Geissen. Having danced Giselle more than any other ballet in his career, he will bring unique insight and expertise to ballet students down under.
“I danced my first Giselle in Bremen when I was 21,” says Taylor. “Very young to be dancing Albrecht, but it was a chance work with Richard Adama from the de Quevas Ballet. His German production was the first to go back to the full original score. I then danced in various productions and for 20 years kept coming back to the role. Every time was very different. It was a treat to be able to use my experience to develop the ideas in the choreography.”
British-born, Taylor trained at the Rambert School of Ballet in London and went on to perform with the company. He left England to work full-time in Germany, (“where my height – 6 foot 4 inches – was very welcome!” he says) first in Dortmund, then Bremen, where he was promoted to soloist. He became a principal dancer at the Opera House in Kiel, where he danced a wide repertoire of classical works. Besides Giselle, he had particular success in Swan Lake, partnering Stuttgart Ballet’s Joyce Cuoco and The Royal Ballet’s Galina Samsova.
After several seasons, Taylor was promoted to resident choreographer in Kiel, and was eventually invited to take directorship of Ballet Koblenz, at age 37.
Anthony Taylor. Photo courtesy of Taylor.
“In my 29 years as director, I gradually worked on showing a German city not only repertoire but moving on to contemporary composers,” he explains. “The theatre system is quite complex here, with every town having its own theatre and mostly with drama, opera and dance departments. It would be good to tell Australian students about our system here.”
On the International Ballet Workshop tour, Taylor will teach ballet technique, repertoire and pas de deux.
“I’m looking forward so much to come to Australia, because over the years I have been particularly impressed with the energy and strength of the work from dancers from down under,” says Taylor. “They are always a pleasure to teach, and their application to work is so impressive!”
The Workshops are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for ballet dancers wishing to pursue their dream, as Taylor will also bring unique international opportunities for senior students. As a result of last year’s Workshops, one young Queensland dancer is now dancing full time at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada.
Anthony Taylor. Photo courtesy of Taylor.
Having retired from Ballet Koblenz in 2011, Taylor was immediately made resident classical teacher for the Tanzcompagnie Geissen, and receives invitations to teach all over the world – most recently working in Italy, USA and China.
The International Ballet Workshops are always immensely popular, and places are filling up quickly. Dancers wishing to register are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Plus, everyone registered by midnight on December 10 will go in the draw to win an amazing dancer’s goodie bag worth $837.00!
For more information and to register, go to: internationalballetworkshops.com.
The International Ballet Workshops Summer 2017 Giselle series:
Melbourne: 6 – 7 January
Perth: 9 – 11 January
Gold Coast: 16 – 18 January
Sydney: 21 – 22 January
Hobart: 24 – 25 January
Auckland: 27 – 28 January
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