Aboriginal Touch To Paris Return
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday September 30, 2008
THE last time the Australian Ballet performed in Paris the company was three years old and not especially Australian.
Directed by an Englishwoman, Peggy van Praagh, the company offered audiences the lure of two guest stars, the English ballerina Margot Fonteyn and the Russian phenomenon Rudolf Nureyev, and the choice of the classical French ballet Giselle, and the Russian ballet Raymonda.Last night, 43 years later, the Australian Ballet opened a week-long season at the Theatre du Chatelet with an all-Australian program, including Rites, choreographed by Stephen Page, the artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, in a collaboration with the Australian Ballet.Rites is Page's Aboriginal interpretation of Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring, one that comes at a significant time - 99 years after Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris shocked and excited the West with its blend of revolutionary choreography, innovative design and scores such as The Rite Of Spring. Later this week, the Australian Ballet will perform Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake, a calling card for the company since its premiere in 2002. This is the company's 30th international tour, and includes London and Manchester next month.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald