“The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.”

— Charles Baudelaire

While the 2019 Australian Ballet season got off to a bit a shaky start, with Cinderella replacing Graeme Murphy’s much anticipated Happy Prince due to Mr Murphy becoming ill, Artistic Director David McAllister has once again shown that his vision for the company remains strong.

Although disappointed not to see the new production of ‘The Happy Prince’, the tried and true ‘Cinderella‘ was a pleasant replacement, and a wonderful entree to the ballet season. Following this tested tale was the visual feast that is’Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland‘. Audiences were able to gorge on the glorious imagery of the Lewis Carroll tale, brought to life by Christopher Wheeldon and the talented ensemble.

The performance of ‘LAC’by Les Ballet de Monte Carlos changed the mood of the season from fun and bright, to dark and sensual. Jean-Christophe Maillot’s imagery in this modern version of Swan Lake shifts the focus from Odette to Odile’s mother. While still using Tchaikovsky’s famous score, the costuming and movements were edging into the contemporary realm, while the lighting took the visuals to new and lofty heights. LAC certainly provided a hearty main course for the 2019 menu.

Moving on to the next course, Stanton Welch’s Sylvia, set to Delibes stunning score, was a wonderful way to clear the palate. This sometimes light-hearted, sometimes serious Greek drama was full of comic moments and beautifully showcased the talents of the female members of the Australian Ballet ensemble. Ako Kondo, who is always superb, was especially wonderful to watch the night we attended.

Finally, to round out our ballet feast, ‘The Nutcracker’ provided us with a fabulous snow-covered dessert. Peter Wright’s stunning rendition of this old Hans Christian Anderson tale continues to evolve with each season. The costuming was especially delicious and once again the lighting played a pivotal roll in styling the production.

As David McAllister comes to the end of his career as Artistic Director it is clear that he is not going to sit on his laurels. The Year of Enchantment has indeed been a year of triumph for McAllister and the dedicated staff of the Australian Ballet. From set design to lighting; costuming and styling; music and guest companies: all have combined to deliver a complete and rounded menu for the feasting ballet public.

Bring on the Limitless Possibilities of 2020!