Perth’s own world-class ballet company, West Australian Ballet, returns in 2021 with its highly anticipated summer triple-bill, As One: Ballet at the Quarry, running 5 – 27 February.
The currently sold-out season (sold to the State Government’s mandate of 60 percent of venue capacity) has long been a much-loved staple of Perth Festival, and in 2021 will feature two works created by West Australian Ballet’s talented dancers and artistic team.
Chihiro Nomura rehearsing
‘Moment of Joy’.
Photo by Juan Carlos Osma.
“It’s exciting to premiere two new dance works from our world-class dancers and team while also seeing the return of acclaimed Australian choreographer Natalie Weir to West Australian Ballet,” said Aurélien Scannella, West Australian Ballet’s artistic director. “We may be already sold out, but hopefully capacity is increased so we can share what will be a magical night of dance with more of our community.”
The first of three works on showis a conceptual piece aptly named Heartache, created collaboratively by several of the company’s versatile dancers. The group, led by Scannella and Principal Rehearsal Director and Artistic Associate Sandy Delasalle, will fuse powerful pas de deux and solos created previously for West Australian Ballet’s annual creative showcase, Genesis, into a new narrative work about one man’s reflection on his life, love and regret. Heartache features pieces created by Delasalle, Polly Hilton, Jesse Homes, Matthew Lehmann, Claire Voss and Jack Whiter with sections of new music created by Corps de Ballet dancer Matej Perunicic (who composes music as a hobby).
Principal dancer Dayana Hardy Acuña and Soloist Juan Carlos Osma will creatively expand a work originally created for the (digital) South African International Ballet Competition last year, into a longer piece for 11 dancers. Moment of Joy focuses on the brighter side of life, exploring an ideal world with the central theme of love and its many forms.
An added asset to Hardy Acuña and Osma’s debut work with West Australian Ballet will be a live virtuosic piano accompaniment for every performance by West Australian Ballet Head of Music Michael Brett, who has created a bespoke composition with a section of improvisation for Moment of Joy.
Photo by Barbara Levit
for Frances Andrijich.
Well-known Australian choreographer Natalie Weir returns to West Australian Ballet for the first time since 2008, bringing her stirring piece for 22 dancers to City Beach. 4Seasons is a reimagining of Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons with a striking re-composition by Max Richter that sees dancers experience four juxtaposing seasons.
The work sees dancers journey through the Spring of eternal youth, Summer storms, the colour of Autumn and a retrospective Winter. 4Seasons was premiered in Hong Kong as a co-production between Expressions Dance Company and Singapore Dance Theatre in 2013, and will make its Western Australian premiere.
As One: Ballet at the Quarry opens on 5 February for a 17-show run in West Australian Ballet’s 28th year performing at City Beach’s Quarry Amphitheatre. For more information, visit waballet.com.au/as-one-ballet-at-the-quarry.
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