WA Ballet principal and soloist dancers.
Camera IconWA Ballet principal and soloist dancers. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Artistic diversity for WA Ballet director Aurelien Scannella’s in 2016

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

DIVERSITY was the key in WA Ballet artistic director Aurelien Scannella’s planning of the company’s 2016 program.

Five by Night: Ballet at the Quarry begins the year in February and will include extended versions of soloist Andre Santos’ In Black made for The Quarry season last year, and To The Pointe which enthralled audiences during this year’s Genesis performances with its combination of hip hop, classical and contemporary dance.

May will feature a season of UK Northern Ballet choreographer David Nixon’s darker-than-Disney take on Beauty and the Beast.

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“I was looking for a different new story ballet and David Nixon is a fantastic storyteller,” Scannella said.

“He’s done Dracula, The Great Gatsby and I decided to choose his Beauty and the Beast which is a lovely ballet with amazing sets and costumes.

“He’s very talented in telling the story which is not always that easy and it has beautiful music with lots of different composers.”

Genesis will return in June, giving WA Ballet dancers the chance to choreograph their own short works and present them in the intimate setting of the WA Ballet Centre studio in Maylands.

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death and the company will honour this with a special September season of Youri Vamos’ Romeo and Juliet alternating with Edward Clug’s Radio and Juliet which was performed during last year’s Quarry season, set to the music of Radiohead.

“I think it’s a nice concept and believe we can tell one story in two different ways,” Scannella said.

“It’s also a way to bring contemporary to His Majesty’s Theatre because it’s not only for classical ballet, it’s for all kinds of dance.”

The season will finish in November/December with a new production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Scannella, his wife and the company’s ballet mistress Sandy Delasalle, and principal dancer Jayne Smeulders.

“This one is going to be traditional with everything from the snow to the Christmas tree,” Scannella said.

Season package subscriptions are available from www.waballet.com.au and individual tickets go on sale November 19.