Queensland Ballet presents its first performance of the year, Queensland Ballet at Home, on Yuggera and Turrbal Country at the heritage listed former factory Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre. Thomas Dixon Centre, in the heart of West End, is the perfect location to kickstart the season for the year. The 2024 QB season will be accessible to not only local Brisbane but, spreading its wingspan to reach regional audiences this year.

Artistic Director Leanne Benjamin, taking over from the much loved former AD Li Cunxin, leads the way forward with this moving performance that has something for everyone to enjoy, whether it be a contemporary spin or traditional ballet as we know it. With the performance now becoming more accessible to a wider range of audiences, now is your chance to join an ever-growing community of artists and art-lovers alike to see fresh and upcoming talent earn their place in the theaters of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre where they will continue to shine on stage for years to come.

The intimate setting of the Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre allows for a quiet appreciation of the artform without all the “glitz and glamour” that usually accompanies a QB performance such as can be seen on the bigger stages at QPAC. Queensland Ballet at Home is the perfect segway to a bigger stage production, as it allows you to experience the art form from varying perspectives, i.e. the more traditional sense as can be seen in the Tchaikovsky Mash which starkly compares to A Rhapsody in Motion that features dancers in brilliant red costumes executing a dance that is more sensuous and contemporary in nature.

Three Preludes, choreographed by Ben Stevenson OBE, on the other hand, offers an intimate portrayal into a tale of two dancers, or should I say lovers? The entire piece strips back the flamboyance and frills often seen in traditional ballet and allows for the dancers to use their bodies solely as an expressive tool. The ballet barre that takes place center stage is the sole prop used in the performance, which further emphasizes the vulnerability of the performers as their bodies seamlessly intertwine with each other. Queensland Ballet at Home is a perfect in-between option for those that are looking to dip their toes in without fully diving into what the artform has to offer.

The audience featured individuals from a range of backgrounds, whether closely associated with the industry or there to support fellow dancers, whether that be friends or family. Regardless of your reason for attending, it is safe to say you will be getting the full value of your ticket with a repertoire that is set to stir, excite and entice you for what is to come for the '24 Queensland Ballet season. We are only really getting started.

 

Review: Joanna Letic

Imagery provided by Queensland Ballet