West Australian Ballet to collaborate at their esteemed Ballet at the Quarry season
Written by Rosharna Femia
West Australian Ballet
West Australian Ballet (WAB) are preparing to collaborate with Choreographer Garry Stewart and West Australian contemporary dance company Co3 at their popular Ballet at the Quarry season which is set under the stars at the Quarry Amphitheatre in City Beach, Perth. The collaboration will see classical and contemporary dancers.
The joint efforts are a celebration of the evolution of dance; from ballet’s beginning in the 15th and 16th centuries, to its evolution into contemporary dance in the modern world. This collaboration is a milestone in the development of the Western Australian dance sector, reflecting a collegial relationship between WAB and Co3, and demonstrates our shared willingness for collaboration and exchange through the presentation of high quality Australian dance.
West Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, Aurélien Scannella, said the aim of creating this new work was not to merge or dilute two dance styles, but to celebrate each in their own right.
2017 Collaboration with NT Dance Company, Deborah Cheetham (Photo credit: Scott Dennis)
“This work will challenge the expectations of both the audience and dancers as well as celebrate the heritage and technique of both classical and contemporary dance,” says Scannella.
Scannella is delighted to be working with Stewart after first witnessing his work in France. Stewart was creating work for a company his wife (West Australian Ballet’s Artistic Associate and Principal Ballet Mistress, Sandy Delasalle) was dancing at.
The inclusion of Garry Stewart as a choreographer brings a large and varied amount of experience to Ballet at the Quarry 2019. Upon speaking to Co3 Artistic Director Raewyn Hill about the opportunity created by the 2019 collaboration at WAB’s Ballet at the Quarry.
Warming up onstage at the Quarry Amphitheatre (Photo credit: Tony Currie)
“The opportunity to collaborate with WAB for the esteemed Quarry season, with the legendary Garry Stewart, will be a highlight of our 2019 programme,” says Hill.
Stewart is a highly awarded Australian Choreographer, well known for his contemporary pieces such as Birdbrain and Housedance; whist having choreographed for classical ballet companies including the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Flanders Ballet and The Australian Ballet.
Art is about breaking boundaries and creating new and exciting works for people to see, which is what Scannella hopes to achieve by sharing the stage with Co3.
“This work will challenge the expectations of both the audience and dancers as well as celebrate the heritage and technique of both classical and contemporary dance,” says Scannella.
West Australian Ballet regularly perform contemporary pieces with their annual season of Ballet at the Quarry and Genesis.
Taking class onstage, Quarry Amphitheatre (Photo credit: Tony Currie)
The neo-classical performance will be illuminated by the summer stars in Perth coastal suburb, City Beach. The Quarry, an open-air venue comes with many restrictions however the sky remains the limit on technical creativity. Scannella mentions that he always ensures the choreographer is aware of the outdoor restrictions before he commissions or purchases existing works and notes that most always find a way to make it work.
“The Quarry makes for an amazing performance, an ambiance I have never felt before, West Australian Ballet is very lucky to be able to perform at such a venue,” says Scannella.
To deliver a shared passion of dance to the wider West Australian community, West Australian Ballet, Co3 and Garry Stewart will also host a series of community and school engagement activities as a part of the collaboration.
Visit West Australian Ballet’s website here.