This September, dance companies from around Australia will gather at Arts Centre Melbourne for the inaugural event of DanceX: Festival of Dance, a two-part festival conceived and curated by The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg that will showcase the depth, range and diversity of the nation’s dance community. Eight companies – The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc, Australian Dance Theatre, Queensland Ballet and West Australian Ballet – will perform in two parts.
The Australian Ballet will perform in both parts, presenting the Australian premiere of Johan Inger’s comic, romantic dance theatre piece I New Then, set to songs by Van Morrison. Inger, a Swedish choreographer, danced with Nederlands Dans Theater and has made works for leading companies all over Europe.
As well as initiating and presenting DanceX, The Australian Ballet has commissioned two companies, Chunky Move and Lucy Guerin Inc, to create brand new works. DanceX is an opportunity for audiences to experience diverse works from Australia’s leading dance companies, celebrating and paying tribute to the richness of Australia’s dance community.
Hallberg said, “What a significant moment to share with audiences: a moment that brings eight companies together, along with two commissions specifically for DanceX.”
Part One of DanceX (24 – 27 September) will feature The Australian Ballet in I New Then, Queensland Ballet in Glass Concerto, Sydney Dance Company in ab [intra] (excerpt), Lucy Guerin Inc in How To Be Us and Bangarra Dance Theatre in Ochres and Walkabout (excerpts). Part Two of DanceX (30 September – 2 October) will include Australian Dance Theatre in The Beginning of Nature, Chunky Move in AB_TA_Response, West Australian Ballet in 4Seasons and The Australian Ballet in I New Then.
For tickets and more information, visit australianballet.com.au/the-ballets/dancex.
![](https://dancemagazine.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DanceMagazineAustralialogoandmagAugSept24.png)