2019 Annual Report Celebrating 55 Years of The Australian Ballet School 1 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report “The highly entertaining program for Summer Season 2019 again highlights The Australian Ballet School as not just an esteemed and invaluable institute but as a trusted brand for brightly polished, modestly priced performances.” Simon Parris: Man in Chair (Theatre, Opera and Ballet Reviewer), December 2019 2 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report 3 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report Vale Dame Margaret Scott In the 55th year of The Australian Ballet School, Founding Director Dame Margaret Scott AC DBE passed away peacefully on 24 February. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dame Margaret began her professional dance career with Sadler’s Wells Ballet in London, where she was appointed Principal in 1941. She soon joined Ballet Rambert, also in London, and was Principal from 1943 to 1948. She arrived in Australia in 1947 as part of Ballet Rambert’s overseas tour and chose to remain. Dame Margaret was a founding member of the National Theatre Ballet in Melbourne and danced in its early seasons as Principal. In the late 1950s, she was involved in negotiations with the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, which led to the formation of The Australian Ballet. In 1964, she was appointed Founding Director of The Australian Ballet School, and continued in that role until 1990. She was invested as a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 1981 for services to ballet. This followed the earlier award of an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976. In 2005, she was honoured as a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC). Her legacy lives on in the thousands of students she nurtured as Founding Director of The Australian Ballet School. Many of whom went onto making their own indelible mark in dance in Australia and beyond—including The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister AM, the School’s third Director Marilyn Rowe AM OBE, and current Director Lisa Pavane. She had a great passion for choreographic development. Choreographer Graeme Murphy AO was also one of her protégés. “We are incredibly sad to lose one of Australia’s greatest ever dance educators. She was a visionary and Australia’s great ballet tradition would not be what it is today without her pioneering work.” Leigh Johns OAM former Chair of the Board of Directors, The Australian Ballet School (retired May 2019). “From fostering the development of a distinctive Australian classical style and curriculum, through to the establishment of the School’s administration and facilities, Dame Margaret set the foundations of The Australian Ballet School, paving the way for the School to become one of the world’s top ballet training schools. It is impossible to tell the story of dance in Australia without her. As the founding Director of The Australian Ballet School she guided its development for almost three decades. As a student under her tutelage and care during the late 70s, I am indebted to her passion, dedication and commitment. She was my teacher, friend and mentor and I am deeply honoured to carry on her incredible legacy.” Lisa Pavane, Director, The Australian Ballet School. On 2 February we celebrated the School’s 55th Anniversary with students and staff and held an assembly commencing with a minute silence in honour of Dame Margaret, remembering everything she has done for The Australian Ballet School, and the future of ballet. The Dame Margaret Scott Endowment Fund was established in 2019 to honour the founding Director of The Australian Ballet School and ensure that Dame Margaret Scott’s legacy continues. 3 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report Table of Contents Vale Dame Margaret Scott 3 The Australian Ballet School 6 Message from the Chair 8 Message from the Director 9 Message from the General Manager 11 Our People 14 Our Students 22 Our Activities 26 Marilyn Rowe House 31 Our Achievements 34 Financial Report Summary 46 Our Supporters & Partners 48 6 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report 5 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report The Australian Ballet School The Australian Ballet School is Australia’s national centre for elite vocational classical dance training. Over 55 years The Australian Ballet School has transformed hundreds of young and aspiring dancers and produced artists of the highest calibre for The Australian Ballet and other significant dance companies around Australia and the world. The Australian Ballet School aims to balance the rigorous demands of professional training with a unique and nurturing environment where creativity and excellence can flourish. We are informed by history, and motivated by the exciting possibilities of the future of dance in Australia and abroad. As Australia’s national centre for elite vocational classical dance, our goal is to remain at the forefront, internationally, as a provider of a professional dance training programme that: • produces exceptional dancers with a distinctive Australian style; • balances technique and artistry with educational needs and holistic care; • trains teachers and develops the artistic leaders of the future; and • advances the art of ballet. Our eight-level accredited program combines studio dance training and academic classroom studies, led by expert teachers and supported by health and wellbeing professionals. In 2019 there were 107 students enrolled in The Australian Ballet School’s eight-level Training Programme. Our students come from all over Australia as well as neighbouring countries. They are both artists and athletes in training with exceptional talent and drive, and a commitment to the art form. We reached many more young and aspiring dancers through our community access activities. As we nurture the future generations of Australian dance artists, and train the stars of the stage today to become the teachers of tomorrow, we are proud of our role in the history and future of dance in Australia. 6 The Australian Ballet School 2019 Annual Report Message from the Chair Message from the Director In May 2019, I was honoured to be appointed Chair of the Board of The Australian Ballet I must begin by congratulating all of our students on the stunning performances that School. The pride I feel in being entrusted to take on this role is dwarfed by the pride in concluded our 2019 school year. It was not just the technical standard, which was a very seeing our students excel as they did in so many ways over the year, culminating in the end of high, but also how each ballet was danced with such charisma and enthusiasm. We cannot year Summer Season performance. I know I am not the only one in the audience who forgets underestimate the benefit that our students gain from the opportunity to advance their that they are, in fact, students. This is why our graduates provide the primary pipeline of technical ability and develop their artistry when performing ballets from the major classical talent for The Australian Ballet, a company which is justifiably famous both here at home and repertoire. Without the support of David McAllister AM and The Australian Ballet, we internationally. It is also why the technique and artistry of our graduates is in high demand would not have had access to the beautiful costumes for our production of ‘Aurora’s in state companies, and takes them to the world’s leading dance companies, with their Wedding’. I am forever grateful for David’s energy and his commitment to the artistic distinctive Australian style. Congratulations to every one of our students on their individual outcomes of The Australian Ballet School. To all the dancers in Journey, Pizzicato, Con Brio progress and achievements throughout 2019. and Sketch Tone, you danced with total commitment and sheer joy. We cannot forget the stunning addition of La Tarantella Italiana! danced so brilliantly and with such a collegiate On behalf of the Board, I thank all the staff whose expertise and energy puts the School at energy and adaptability. And last, but not least, huge congratulations to our students for the forefront—internationally—in providing a unique program that truly advances the art the wonderfully entertaining performances of Who Cares? At the end of the performance of ballet. I also take this opportunity to congratulate Lisa Pavane on her leadership of the as our students all gathered in the corridor after the show with emotions running high and School this year—again, delivering exceptional student outcomes within a nurturing culture. I said to them—“you will remember this day forever” and I truly meant that. I graduated from Now in her fifth year as Director, Lisa is part of a cohort of exceptional women who have The Australian Ballet School in 1980 and I also danced ‘Aurora’s Wedding’ in my graduation shaped the vision of this School. Early in 2019, the ballet world lost one of its leaders—and performance, as the 1st Florestan Sister—that was nearly 40 years ago. I remember that the School, its founding Director —with the passing of Dame Margaret Scott. I pay tribute graduation very clearly and will cherish it always. to her, and am delighted that we can honour her legacy with the establishment of the Dame Margaret Scott Endowment Fund. The purpose of this Fund is to secure the long-term I travelled extensively in 2019 and can confidently say we are doing exceptionally well. We financial sustainability of the School, so we can continue to support young dancers to are fortunate to have strong relationships with other top schools and during the year, I achieve their potential. personally visited HET National Training Academy and the Royal Ballet School. I attended the Prix de Lausanne and sat on juries for the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in General Manager Sandra Ball oversees the operations of The Australian Ballet School.