Restoring my soul.

November 1st 7:30pm saw my ten year old daughter and myself attend the 50th Anniversary Gala event of the Australian Ballet Company, at the State Theatre in Melbourne.

We ate at Cafe Vic, a fine little eatery in the Victorian Arts Centre.  A meal of Pork Belly with apple horseradish salad, for me, and a glass of Yerring Station Pinot Noir, started my evening off nicely. Darling Daughter’s meal was more homestyle – toasted ham and cheese sandwich with a glass of coke.

We purchased our extravagantly designed Gala Program for $20, it contains essays of writings from dignitaries from Australia and around the Globe singing the praises of the Company.  Also very glossy photos of the dancers past and present.

Miss Halaina Hills photo appears in the ranks of the Corphyrees, although from our seated position I failed to pinpoint her on stage during Etudes.

The program ran charmingly along throughout the night with Pas de Deux from several traditional ballets, performed by guest artists from the San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, The Tokyo Ballet and the National Ballet of China as well as distinguished Prima Ballerinas from the Australian Ballet Company.

The orchestra led brilliantly by Music Director and Chief Conductor Nicolette Fraillon with Orchestra Victoria.

Overture – performed by the Australian Ballet, Choreography by David Macallister and music by Tchiachovsky, opened the proceedings with some vim and vigour, just ethereal in white the Dancers wore much aplomb.

Little Monsters – performed by guests Elisa Badenes and Daniel Carmargo of the Stuttgart Ballet – performed to songs from Elvis Presley – quite a contemporary piece of dance for a Ballet Gala, but intoxicatingly brilliant nonetheless.

Act II Pas De Deux from Giselle – performed by guests Zhu Yan and Sun Ruichen from the National Ballet of China – astonishingly dazzling, the most moving performance of this Pas de Deux I have seen in years.

Love Pas de Deux form Carmen Suite – performed by guests Mizuka Ueno and Naoki Takagishi from the Tokyo Ballet – outstandingly beautiful

Pas de Deux from After the Rain – performed by Amber Scott of the Australian Ballet and guest Damian Smith from San Francisco Ballet – hauntingly beautiful a true magical experience.

Bedroom Pas de Deux from Manon – performed by Adam Bull of the Australian Ballet and guest Julie Kent of the American Ballet Theatre – my daughters favourite piece, humorous and delightful.

Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux – featuring Ty King-Wall and Leanne Stojmenov of the Australian Ballet – gorgeous.

White Swan Pas de Deux form Swan Lake – performed by guests Soriane Sylve and Pierre-Francois Vilanoba from San Francisco Ballet – I was dancing on the lake with them, they have a way of drawing you to them and making you a part of the performance.  Divine.

Wedding Pas de Deux from Don Quixote – performed by guests Elisa Badenes and Damiel Carargo from Stuttgart Ballet – cheeky, funny and extremely athletic, fun, fun, fun.

Interval

The 100th Performance of Etudes featuring the Australian Ballet – Madeleine Eastoe, Yosvani Ramos, Andrew Killian and Chengwu Guo – Without doubt the performance of the evening, the truth of ballet performed before our eyes, the hard work in class to the highs of performing as a Prima on stage, the musical score is brilliant and was superbly played by the Victorian Orchestra.

Tonights (Friday 2nd November) performance is going to be Live streamed on the ABC.

Très Magnifique.