Passion Spices Ballet
Newcastle Herald
Thursday March 8, 2007
QUEENSLAND Ballet artistic director Francois Klaus promised Newcastle theatre-goers something special on the weekend.
And that's what they got when the company performed The Nutcracker at the Civic Theatre on Friday and Saturday. During rehearsals in town last week, Klaus said that people generally bored by traditional ballet would not be this time around; I'm sure he was right. As a lover of ballet, but more so contemporary dance, I can even find traditional ballets such as Swan Lake to be drawn-out and, well, boring. But The Nutcracker was none of these. Its dreamy costumes and breathtaking sets made for an exciting night full of colour and magic.But that's not even talking about the dancing. Principal dancer Rachael Walsh, who studied at the Australian Ballet with former Newcastle ballerina Terasa Webster, was stupendous as Clara.Walsh's strong technique and acting skills helped to captivate the audience, as did Zachary Chantin the role of Drosselmeyer. Renee von Stein was legendary in the Arabian dance, making all women in the audience jealous with her super-toned legs and sensuality. Alex Wagner was the stand-out soldier in Act One and Yu Hui must be commended on his solo performance as Drosselmeyer's assistant early on in the piece. Overall, the company boasts an A-grade cast of dancers, who possess extraordinary technique, strength, and agility, but also passion for their craft.live@theherald.com.au
© 2007 Newcastle Herald