The highlights of the autumn ballet season in Sydney is varied and interesting. There are three new ballets being performed at the Sydney Opera House by the Australian Ballet.
Manon is currently on at the Opera House. This is a beautiful production of the famous thought provoking classical ballet about a love triangle set in Paris in the 18th century.
Lucinda Dunn's final performance in Manon
Chroma starts at the Sydney Opera House in late April and runs until the middle of May. This ballet is where the classical ballet meets the contemporary.
Imperial Suite starts at the Sydney Opera House in late April and runs to mid May. This is ballet in the true classical style and is performed in the true sophistication of the Parisian style.
I have a background in ballet as my mother was a ballerina. I was introduced to it at a young age and continued dancing till the age of fourteen. I still love attending performances and am always moved by the beauty and elegance of this physical art form.
Prima Ballerina Lucinda Dunn with her daughters
I also have to make note of the retirement of our much acclaimed prima ballerina Lucinda Dunn of Manly. Lucinda will give her final performance at the Sydney Opera house on April 23rd in the lead role in Manon.
The papers have been full of the news of Lucinda's achievements and retirement plans. Lucinda joined the Australian Ballet at the age of seventeen and is the only female dancer to be employed by the Australian Ballet for twenty years. Lucinda will go on to become the Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Coaching Academy at St Leonard's where she was a student from the age of thirteen.
Lucinda has also managed to have two daughters Claudia 5 and Ava 2. Quite a feat on its own within the strict regime and life style of a prima ballerina.
Lucinda Dunn's Pointe Shoes on Display as part of a raffle prize at a function called Meet The New Dancers by The Friends of The Ballet at The Waterfront Restaurant
There will also be the introduction of 8 new young dancers into The Australian Ballet. I was lucky enough to meet six of these young dancers at a function run by The Friends of Australian Ballet held at the Waterfront Restaurant at Circular Quay. They were introduced individually to guests by The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David McAllister.
It was a enjoyable night of cocktails and finger food for patrons and guests who were given a chance to wish all the young ballet dancers well for their futures.
The Friends of Australian Ballet is a non profit organisation that raises funds for the Australian Ballet. The Friends of Australian Ballet will be donating a financial contribution towards the purchasing of pointe shoes for the young dancers
Emma McFarlane a new dancer being introduced to guests at a function Meet the New Dancers by David McCallister Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet
I was fortunate to win in a raffle a pair of Pointe Shoes which belonged to a delightful young ballerina named Emma McFarlane who told me what performances she had danced in them. Emma was full of hopes for her future and was delighted to be accepted into The Australian Ballet.
