This is due to the uncertainty around COVID.
It’s been a hard year for live events in Melbourne. The Royal Melbourne Show has been cancelled, MIFF is streaming online and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has been pushed back. And now, the Australian Ballet has announced that all Melbourne shows will be postponed until 2022. Continuous lockdowns and restrictions in live venues have made it difficult to plan the ballet season. As a result, multiple shows including Romeo and Juliet have been affected.
Which shows have been postponed by the Australian Ballet?
This decision from the Australian Ballet affects both on-stage performances and live streams.
It includes:
- Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare’s tragic love story is brought to life through effortless dance.
- Harlequinade – this lively revival of the 1900 ballet follows the love story of Harlequin and Columbine.
- DanceX – a diverse festival that showcases the talent from Australia’s dance community.
- Anna Karenina – Tolstoy’s classic novel about Anna Karenina, whose desire brings about her ruin, unfolds on stage.
The postponed season also applies to related Step Inside events and live streams of the performances.
“This has been a difficult and disappointing decision for us all,” said The Australian Ballet. “Our purpose is to perform. Like you, we are keen to have ballet back in theatres.”
Ticketholders are encouraged to hold on to their tickets while the company finalises the new dates. Performance dates for 2022 will be communicated as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the performers will continue to train and rehearse in the coming months, so that they can return to the stage stronger and better than ever.
Ballet TV
Meanwhile, why don’t you explore their service, Ballet TV? They have a range of videos that will keep you occupied.
Put on your dance slippers and try out a ballet class. They have sample classes available for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Then, if you enjoyed the sample class, you can purchase a full class to sharpen your dance skills.
“It’s never too late to start your ballet journey,” said Artistic Director David McAllister. “Your kitchen bench or just a chair can serve as a makeshift barre. So slip on your ballet shoes, or keep it simple with bare feet, and let’s get dancing.”
Otherwise, have a browse and watch rehearsal clips to see the pros in action.
If you’re really missing the ballet, you can also jump onto ABC iView. Type in “The Australian Ballet”, and they’ll have a range of their best performances. These videos are available to stream for the rest of 2021.