Queensland Ballet has announced that celebrated international ballet professional Ivan Gil-Ortega will step into the role of Artistic Director in February this year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ivan to the Queensland Ballet family following a stellar career on stage, in studio and working alongside some of ballet’s leading lights,” Brett Clark AM, Board Chair said. Throughout the recruitment process, Ivan articulated his vision very clearly with a particular focus on our dancers of today and our dancers of tomorrow, through the work of our Academy.”
Clark added, “He is also brimming with ideas around nurturing home-grown talent here in Australia as well as exploring world-stage collaborations and exchanges which will see him leaning into his international peers and networks. Ivan and his family are very much looking forward to calling Queensland home and we cannot wait to see them here very soon.”
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Gil-Ortega’s appointment is a bright start to an exciting 65th anniversary year for Queensland Ballet.
“Queensland Ballet has a reputation for creating breathtaking productions including its sell-out seasons of Strictly Gershwin,” Minister Langbroek said. “Ivan’s involvement with this production demonstrates his appreciation and understanding of the talent within Queensland Ballet, and he joins at an exciting time, with the company entering a new era. Queensland Ballet is a global name, and over the next seven years there will be opportunities for our talented performers to shine in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Gil-Ortega is a celebrated ballet professional with over 25 years in the field, holding extensive roles with companies and creatives around the world, including Principal Dancer, Assistant Director, Artistic Consultant, Freelance Rehearsal Director, Stager and Coach. He was a principal artist at Stuttgart Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, and contributed as a guest artist with prestigious companies such as Ballet of Santiago de Chile, le Bayerisches Staatsballet de Munich, the Finnish National Ballet, the Croatian National Ballet, the West Australian Ballet, Ballet del Teatro Massimo de Palermo, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Florentino, Teatro de l’Arena di Verona, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Nuremberg Staatsballet, Universal Ballet of Corea, National Ballet of Corea, and the Slovenian National Ballet.
His career is marked by his artistic excellence, technical proficiency and compelling character interpretations, showcasing elegance and remarkable partnering skills. Since 2007, Gil-Ortega has represented multiple international ballet companies, directing and staging major productions worldwide.
Further, his linguistic skills are an asset in the diverse world of international ballet. Born in Spain, he is fluent in Spanish, as well as English, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Gil-Ortega expressed his enthusiasm for the role. “I am truly excited to step into the role of Artistic Director at Queensland Ballet. This is a Company I have always admired and one that has dared to dream big. It feels like everything has aligned perfectly to make this the right opportunity for me and for Queensland Ballet – the people, the place and the potential. This is a dream come true for me and my family, and I am eager to add my energy and passion to the inspiring Queensland Ballet team.”
Clark extended his gratitude to the Acting Artistic Director. “We would like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of Greg Horsman who, as Acting Artistic Director following Leanne Benjamin’s departure in August 2024, has worked closely with Dilshani to ensure continued delivery of exceptional and engaging work through our performances, Academy training programs, community initiatives and Thomas Dixon Centre offerings. It is no secret that we have been through a turbulent time of late, and we acknowledge Greg, Dilshani and the wider Queensland Ballet team’s dedication which saw us closing 2024 in good spirits with warm hopes for the future. As Ivan joins us, Greg will resume his position as Assistant Artistic Director.”
Gil-Ortega was part of Queensland Ballet’s sell-out production Strictly Gershwin presented to Brisbane audiences in 2016 and in 2023, acting as right-hand to Choreographer and Director, Derek Deane.
“In seeking our next Artistic Director, we leaned into our inner circles and considered those who have collaborated with us and therefore have an innate understanding of our culture, our business levers and our sustainability strategy,” expressed Dilshani Weerasinghe, Executive Director. “Ivan has worked with us on multiple occasions, knows our team and many of our dancers, and is a friend of our collaborators around the world.”
Weerasinghe continued, “Given our intense growth and transformation since 2013, we have some unique considerations including the need to continue to advocate for Federal funding parity for Queenslanders, Queensland Ballet and arts organisations in Queensland, continue to be relevant to our audiences and our wider community, and continue to engage meaningfully with our family of generous corporate partners, members and donors. Ivan joins us with some exciting ideas in all these spaces, is already known to some in our donor family, and we are very much looking forward to his fresh thinking and energy.”
Currently a resident in Zurich, Switzerland, Gil-Ortega will be joining a Queensland Ballet contingent, at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland, ballet’s pre-eminent international talent showcase, in February, celebrating the bestowing of the Prix’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Queensland Ballet’s former Artistic Director, Li Cunxin AO. The award recognises an individual’s exceptional contribution to the world of dance.
Queensland Ballet is also thrilled to announce that Li Cunxin has accepted Queensland Ballet’s invitation to take up the role of inaugural Chair of Queensland Ballet’s Endowment Fund, working closely with the Queensland Ballet team and its family of supporters to build on visionary pledges directed towards Academy Scholarships, the Jette Parker Young Artists Program and the Van Norton Li Community Health Institute.
“As Artistic Director from 2013-2023, I had the privilege of being a part of QB’s journey, standing on the shoulders of the Artistic Directors before me,” Li said. “There can be no higher honour than ensuring that QB continues to thrive forever, beyond me and all of us. The only way to sustain a charitable, for-purpose organisation such as this one, is to build the strongest foundation of support possible: our Endowment. I look forward to sharing more news of our plans soon and am very excited to be working closely with Ivan, Dilshani and the QB team to truly make a difference.”
Gil-Ortega concluded, “I am committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere that respects and honours the legacy of ballet while pushing creative boundaries, leading with integrity, respect, passion and dedication. I have long admired Queensland Ballet and Queenslanders, and I cannot wait to get started.”
Queensland Ballet’s seventh Artistic Director will arrive mid-February, and will oversee a fully programmed 2025 season.
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