Queensland Ballet
Encyclopedia
The Queensland Ballet, founded in 1960 by Charles Lisner
OBE, is the premier ballet company of Queensland
, Australia
, and is based in Brisbane
.
Under the artistic direction of French-born François Klaus
since 1998, the Company presents approximately 100 performances each year. Its repertoire ranges from popular classics and full-length story ballets to new works in a variety of dance styles by reputed Australian and international choreographers, as well as emerging local talents. Works such as The Little Mermaid, which are designed especially to appeal to children and families, are another feature of the annual program.
In addition to performing in Brisbane, the Company tours each year to centres large and small in regional Queensland, as well as making interstate and overseas visits.
The Company’s home is the historic Thomas Dixon Centre for Dance in Brisbane's West End. Celebrating its centenary in 2008, the building was first built as a shoe factory in 1908. It now contains four large dance studios, one of which, the Charles Lisner Studio, can be adapted as a performance venue. These facilities enable the Company to offer a full range of training and community access programs.
Queensland Ballet offers dance students from as young as 11 years training in the Junior Extension and Professional Year Programs, as well as in the Queensland Dance School of Excellence (a program offered in partnership with Education Queensland).
and danced with the Borovansky Australian Ballet prior to travelling to London to continue his dance studies and education with the Sadlers Wells Ballet School
. He later joined the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. In 1953, Lisner returned to Australia to open the Lisner Ballet Academy, and in 1960, the Lisner Ballet Company.
The Company was re-named Queensland Ballet in 1962 and became the first ballet ensemble in Australia to tour to regional centres throughout Australia.
Eminent author and social scientist Ross Honeywill
was one of the Queensland Ballet's many general managers - he served in the role between 1970 and 1973.
In 1974, Charles Lisner resigned as Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Ballet, to be suceeeded by Harry Haythorne. Following Harry's departure in 1978, founding company member and principal dancer, Harold Collins, was appointed Artistic Director
. Collins led the company until his retirement in 1997, maintaining Lisner's commitment to the creation of uniquely Australian dance, and to forging a strong, independent, original, and visually intriguing company.
Collins was succeeded in 1998 by François Klaus
, a respected and experienced European dancer, teacher and choreographer. Under Klaus's artistic stewardship, Queensland Ballet has continued to expand, retaining and remaining a significant force in the Australian cultural landscape.
Charles Lisner
Charles Lisner was the founder and first artistic director of the Queensland Ballet. Born in Paris, France, Lisner emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1937. He started dancing late in life, in his early twenties, and traveled to London where he spent time with the Sadler's Wells Ballet...
OBE, is the premier ballet company of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and is based in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
About Queensland Ballet
With 23 dancers, Queensland Ballet is a company which presents a varied repertoire of dance works. One of only three full-time professional ballet companies in Australia, Queensland Ballet is a showpiece of the State’s arts culture.Under the artistic direction of French-born François Klaus
François Klaus
François Klaus , is a ballet dancer and choreographer.He began dancing with the Geneva Ballet in Switzerland, continuing with the Stuttgart Ballet and later the Munich Ballet both under the direction of John Cranko becoming a principal dancer. Francois joined The Hamburg Ballet under the direction...
since 1998, the Company presents approximately 100 performances each year. Its repertoire ranges from popular classics and full-length story ballets to new works in a variety of dance styles by reputed Australian and international choreographers, as well as emerging local talents. Works such as The Little Mermaid, which are designed especially to appeal to children and families, are another feature of the annual program.
In addition to performing in Brisbane, the Company tours each year to centres large and small in regional Queensland, as well as making interstate and overseas visits.
The Company’s home is the historic Thomas Dixon Centre for Dance in Brisbane's West End. Celebrating its centenary in 2008, the building was first built as a shoe factory in 1908. It now contains four large dance studios, one of which, the Charles Lisner Studio, can be adapted as a performance venue. These facilities enable the Company to offer a full range of training and community access programs.
Queensland Ballet offers dance students from as young as 11 years training in the Junior Extension and Professional Year Programs, as well as in the Queensland Dance School of Excellence (a program offered in partnership with Education Queensland).
History
Lisner trained with Edouard BorovanskyEdouard Borovansky
Edouard Borovansky was a Czech- born Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and director. After touring with Anna Pavlova's company, he and his wife settled in Australia where they established the Borovansky Ballet company...
and danced with the Borovansky Australian Ballet prior to travelling to London to continue his dance studies and education with the Sadlers Wells Ballet School
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
. He later joined the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. In 1953, Lisner returned to Australia to open the Lisner Ballet Academy, and in 1960, the Lisner Ballet Company.
The Company was re-named Queensland Ballet in 1962 and became the first ballet ensemble in Australia to tour to regional centres throughout Australia.
Eminent author and social scientist Ross Honeywill
Ross Honeywill
Ross Honeywill is a social scientist and internationally published author.Honeywill specializes in social research and the understanding and application of social theory...
was one of the Queensland Ballet's many general managers - he served in the role between 1970 and 1973.
In 1974, Charles Lisner resigned as Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Ballet, to be suceeeded by Harry Haythorne. Following Harry's departure in 1978, founding company member and principal dancer, Harold Collins, was appointed Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
. Collins led the company until his retirement in 1997, maintaining Lisner's commitment to the creation of uniquely Australian dance, and to forging a strong, independent, original, and visually intriguing company.
Collins was succeeded in 1998 by François Klaus
François Klaus
François Klaus , is a ballet dancer and choreographer.He began dancing with the Geneva Ballet in Switzerland, continuing with the Stuttgart Ballet and later the Munich Ballet both under the direction of John Cranko becoming a principal dancer. Francois joined The Hamburg Ballet under the direction...
, a respected and experienced European dancer, teacher and choreographer. Under Klaus's artistic stewardship, Queensland Ballet has continued to expand, retaining and remaining a significant force in the Australian cultural landscape.