2016 Annual Report PRINCIPAL PARTNER Contents section one COMPANY OVERVIEW 3 REPORTS 4 Chair’s Report 5 Artistic Director’s Report 6 Executive Director’s Report 8 KEY FOCUS AREAS 9 1. Artistry 10 2. Access 13 3. Activation 15 HIGHLIGHTS 19 International Touring 20 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 21 1. Seasons and Repertoire 22 2. Artistic Vibrancy 26 3. Access 26 4. Performances and Attendance 27 5. Income 29 DIRECTORS, SUPPORTERS AND COMPANY DETAILS 31 Board Directors 32 Committees 35 Private Giving 36 Corporate Partners 38 Company Details 39 section two 2016 FINANCIAL REPORT 41 134 Whatley Crescent, Maylands WA 6051 PO Box 604, Maylands WA 6931 P: +61 8 9214 0707 F: +61 8 9481 0710 [email protected] waballet.com.au ABN: 55 023 843 043 Cover: Photo Sergey Pevnev. SECTION ONE Company PATRON Her Excellency the Hon. Kerry Sanderson AC, Overview Governor of Western Australia PRIVATE GIVING PATRON Mrs Alexandra Burt PROFILE West Australian Ballet (WAB) is the State ballet company for Western Australia, based in Perth, and is proud of its heritage as Australia’s first ballet company – established in 1952. WAB boasts a full time professional troupe of dancers, and presents a diverse repertoire of full-length ballets and modern repertoire locally, nationally and internationally. MISSION To enrich people’s lives through dance. VISION To be recognised for exceptional ballet experiences and leadership within our communities, locally and globally. GOALS West Australian Ballet will achieve its VISION by: • Positioning the company as Australia’s most innovative and dynamic ballet company and presenting a diverse repertoire in fresh and original ways; • Working closely with State, private and corporate partners to maximise its relevance as a highly valued and sought after cultural and economic asset; • Providing a first-class flagship arts company for Western Australia; • Ensuring a secure and sustainable ballet company that can play its full part in achieving a vibrant, diverse, and civilised society for the benefit of future generations of Western Australians; • Offering a standard of ballet that is both benchmarked at an international level that inspires our communities and continually develops the art form WAB’s bold brand mark symbolises BRAND VALUES the dynamic movement of dancers Access, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity. intersecting through space and time. It is also representative of the art BRAND SPIRIT of choreology, and stands alone as a work of art. It defines the strong Bold, Respected, Dynamic, Passionate, Innovative, Warm, Spirited, visual imagery of ballet and the Inclusive. quality of art that WAB produces. It is a highly visible and recognisable BRAND ESSENCE symbol, which brings a level of strength and sophistication to WAB’s Anything is possible. public profile. 3 Reports Brooke Widdison-Jacobs & Christopher Hill in Radio & Juliet. Photo Sergey Pevnev. 4 get the opportunity. In March philanthropic contributions to the Company packed their cover the creative costs of selected bags and headed to Albany for productions each year. Working performances and a range of closely with the Sponsorship and community activities. A month or Philanthropy teams they help raise so later the Access team returned millions of dollars and contribute to complete an education in so many different ways to the program which included achievements of the Company. workshops for dance students and in-school activities. Our thanks always to our Principal Partner Woodside who has been As well as touring to Albany our biggest corporate sponsor the Company ventured to for eight years. This year we are Jakarta, Indonesia where we proud to add Singapore Airlines showcased Once, a specifically to the position of Lead Partner created production for this very alongside our longstanding special international tour and an supporter Wesfarmers Arts. I also innovative Knowledge Exchange acknowledge our Major Partners Program. Funded by the Federal EY, Clifford Chance, Healthway Chair’s Government through the Catalyst promoting the Alcohol Think – Cultural and Diplomacy Stream, Again message, The Mad Empire the West Australian branch of the and Abbott & Co Printers. These Report Department of Foreign Affairs and companies together with our Trade, Tourism WA, Department of extensive list of Government, DR ROBERT EDWARDES Culture and the Arts and Woodside, Media, Access and Supporting the dancers and artistic staff were Partners, enable us to enliven our accompanied by an enthusiastic communities across WA, and now cheer squad of private donors. internationally. This past year has seen a number The support we receive from our of people changes at WAB. The sponsors is surpassed only by the Board of Directors are very happy loving and generous hearts of our Jessica Machin now has her feet donors. The strong connection to As Chair of West Australian Ballet firmly under the desk as our the Company we enjoy with these (WAB) it is my privilege to champion an Executive Director. My thanks special people is one of the most organisation with goals that reflect values again to Jan Stewart PSM for acting rewarding aspects of our work. that are very important to me - Access, in this role during the transition Our Patron, H.E the Honourable Excellence, Innovation and Integrity. The period. We also said goodbye to Kerry Sanderson AC has given 2016 results clearly demonstrate WAB Principal Dancer Jayne Smeulders, generously of her time attending dancers and staff have delivered above who is now focusing on her opening nights and extolling the and beyond in all of these areas. family, choreographic career and merits of WAB wherever she goes. mentorship within the dance Mrs Alexandra Burt, our Patron, The Excellence of the Company is evident industry. After a stunning career Private Giving has continued to in the outstanding artistic practice of the spanning 20 years (17 of those work for the benefit of WAB as dancers on stage and the enthusiasm of with WAB), Jayne enjoyed her last well as becoming a new mother world renowned artists to come work with role on stage during our Beauty & with the delightful arrival of her our artistic team and company of dancers. the Beast season, followed by an daughter Georgiana. This year WAB worked with international emotional curtain down party. talents such as choreographers David It is a continuing privilege for Nixon, Youri Vamos, and Edward Clug. The The Board of Directors and me to witness the extraordinary UK-based design team Phil R Daniels and Leadership team have recently passion and energy, and Charles Cusick Smith worked with the WAB reviewed our strategic plan and outstanding performance that Production team to bring a world premiere are well positioned to continue this Company brings to audiences of The Nutcracker to life, choreographed the Company’s growth and throughout the year. I am looking by former WAB Principal Dancer Jayne evolution and capitalise on the forward to my third year as Chair Smeulders, Artistic Director, Aurélien momentum that has developed and being part of such an exciting Scannella and Ballet Mistress, Sandy over the last five years. As Chair of performing arts company. Delasalle-Scannella. this wonderful team I especially thank the Directors of the Board. At WAB we endeavor to be inclusive Each year they freely give their with our work to ensure those who are collective support and leadership, economically, socially or geographically pro-bono advice, expertise and isolated have access to dance. Bringing time. They also make significant ballet to those who might not otherwise 5 As promised in my welcome was full of clear, crisp aesthetic to you in anticipation of 2016, lines expertly created by our ‘the year that was’ proved to be dancers with skill and grace. another of artistic excitement, Initially created for the 2014 vibrancy, excellence and diversity. Genesis season, the work of In Despite much change and Black by Soloist Andre Santos challenge, in this, my fourth year was expanded for our Quarry with the Company, we broke season into a further display of even more records, presented virtuosity and delectable finesse, a number of new and exciting crystallised by the relentless, works and most importantly, explosive physicality of the male welcomed more of you into our quartet within. WAB family by greeting you at the doors of our performances. Completing this eclectic program was To the Pointe, a collaboration Over the course of 2016, we between our very own Meg presented four mainstage Parry, Victoria Maughan, Melissa seasons, our first international Boniface, Andre Santos, Jayne tour in 10 years, one regional Smeulders and special guest tour, our annual choreographic Pepito, a three time Australian Artistic development season in the form Bboy champion and dancer. To of Genesis, and a growing host the Pointe delighted audiences Director’s of community engagement and with a fusion of hip-hop, outreach activities connecting us contemporary dance and classical with Western Australians from ballet, with Pepito also taking Report many regions of our great State. to the stage in a display of his impressive breakdancing AURÉLIEN SCANNELLA Commencing the year with our prowess. beloved Quarry season, Five by Night, we presented a mixed Selling out yet another season bill of five exquisite and diverse at the Quarry, we toured Five by works; On the Nature of Daylight, Night to our audiences down in Ambiguous Content, 5, In Black Albany for two performances and and To the Pointe. numerous community events with our special guest Pepito. From the mind of internationally renowned choreographer David For our May season, and Dawson, came the Australian its Australian Premiere, we Premiere of the works On the presented Beauty & the Beast, Nature of Daylight and 5. Set a work created by David Nixon to the heart wrenching music OBE, Artistic Director of Northern of Max Richter, On the Nature Ballet.