IN PERSON / PERFORMANCE

Queensland Ballet at the Next Generation Festival

Date 4- 6 June 2022
Location Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London
Date Queensland Ballet Insights Event: 7 June 2022
Time 7:45pm (GMT)
Location Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London
Date: 07.06.2022 Time: 7:45pm (GMT)

Experience the future artistry of Queensland Ballet with a breathtaking triple bill showcasing original works by renowned Australian choreographers, Jack Lister, Natalie Weir, and Loughlan Prior. Performed by the Company’s talented Jette Parker Young Artists, this vibrant performance will transport the audience and fill their hearts with wonder.

Overview

Next generation talent will be on show in Queensland Ballet’s (QB) Young Artist Programme, visiting the Royal Opera House (ROH) for the first time with an exciting triple bill. The Company’s gifted Jette Parker Young Artists (sister initiative to the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artist Programme) will join featured former Young Artists who have joined Queensland Ballet as Company dancers in original new works by QB’s Associate Choreographer, Jack Lister, and Resident Choreographer, Natalie Weir, as well as Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Resident Choreographer, Loughlan Prior.

Combining dynamic contemporary dance with technology, design and music, the performances are part of The Royal Ballet’s Next Generation Festival at the Royal Opera House, London.

Alongside the Queensland Ballet’s performance at the Next Generation Festival, there will be a special Insights event on Tuesday 7 June at the Royal Opera House. Director of Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare will be in conversation with Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cuxin and Australian dancer and former Principal of The Royal Ballet Leanne Benjamin. Watch dancers from Queensland Ballet and The Royal Ballet in performance as part of a cultural exchange celebrating the cultural richness of the UK and Australia. More

About the Company

Queensland Ballet is a vibrant, creative company which connects people and dance across Queensland. It offers a program of world-class productions of the best classical ballets and inspired contemporary dance works. The Company engages renowned choreographers and designers from around the world and nurtures emerging local talent by presenting exciting new works in an intimate studio series.

With a culture of creativity and collaboration, complemented by an active program of engagement with our communities, Queensland Ballet has become the central hub for dance in the State. Its dancers are acclaimed for their technical excellence and versatility, and the annual program offers diversity in style, audience focus and geographic reach, with up to 100 performances in Brisbane and tours to regional Queensland.

Image: David Kelly

Choreographers

  • Natalie Weir: Australian choreographer Natalie Weir is known internationally for her highly physical partner work, her organic movement style and her touching insight into humanity. Natalie completed an Associate Diploma of Performing Arts at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. She was a founding member of Expressions Dance Company (EDC) and was offered her first choreographic commission by Expressions Artistic Director Maggi Sietsma at the age of 18

    Loughlan Prior: Described by Dance Aotearoa New Zealand as ‘A creative tour de force’ Loughlan Prior is an award winning Aussie/Kiwi choreographer and filmmaker based in Wellington. After graduating from the New Zealand School of Dance he joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2010 and began creating small works for the company, becoming the first recipient of the Ballet Foundation of New Zealand’s Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award in 2015. He received Creative New Zealand’s Tup Lang Choreographic Award in 2016 and traveled to Toronto to stage his work Curious Alchemy at the Assemblée Internationale.

    Jack Lister: Following his training at The Australian Ballet School, Jack Lister joined Queensland Ballet (QB) in 2014 and danced many featured roles in works by Christopher Bruce, Nils Christe, Jiri Kylian, Liam Scarlett, Trey McIntyre and Natalie Weir. After creating his first work for QB in 2015, Lister quickly established a name as a respected emerging maker, recognised in The Australian as “a young choreographer who is going places.” He has gone on to create mainstage works for Queensland Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Australasian Dance Collective, presented throughout Australia, United Kingdom, China and Germany to critical and audience acclaim. In January 2020, Lister was appointed Associate Choreographer with Queensland Ballet and joined Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) as a Company Artist.