Dance In Preview

Like your classical dance served with a side of international intrigue? Then the Queensland Ballet’s annual gala season, taking place this weekend, might be just the ticket.

Although he has overseen a new ‘International Gala’ each year since joining Queensland Ballet (QB) in 1998, artistic director François Klaus says the format presents unique challenges that don’t always work themselves out by opening night.

“Contacting dancers is the easier part – getting visas organised is becoming an increasingly difficult and lengthy process,” he says. “It leaves no leeway at all for last minute substitutes because of injury. This is the biggest planning obstacle.”

Although audiences aren’t aware of the fuss behind the scenes, previous galas have seen dancers pull out at the last minute, with others flown in to replace them and swift program changes made.

Still to be finalised, the 2010 line up is typically diverse, incorporating performers from four different international companies in addition to QB’s 30-strong ensemble. Dancers from the Dresden SemperOper Ballett in Germany, for example, will perform a piece created by a British choreographer originally crafted for the famed Kirov company in Russia.

Stars from the Hong Kong Ballet (choreography by Krzysztof Pastor) and Chinese National Ballet (Fei Bo) should show off a different style to their European counterparts.

And in what should be a striking match, QB principal Clare Morehen will partner Florimond Lorieux from the Paris Opera Ballet to perform a piece from ‘Genzano’. Klaus says he tries to balance classical works with more contemporary ones, but hopes a piece by QB favourite Nils Christe from the Netherlands should please just about everyone. Christe’s work ‘Fearful Symmetries’ backs up from the striking ‘Sync’, which proved a hit in last year’s ‘With Attitude’ season.

But with the entire program only able to come together when all the dancers have arrived and are able to rehearse, Klaus says a certain amount of flexibility is required. Fittingly though, one part of the program that can be confirmed – the new QB ensemble work that begins the show – is still under wraps. “That should be a surprise shouldn’t it?,” he says tight-lipped. “But as it is our 50th anniversary it has to do with a birthday.”

The 2010 '50th Anniversary International Gala' appears at the Playhouse, QPAC from August 6-8.