The Australian Ballet's Celebration Gala

A stunning showcase of the Australian Ballet's 2022 program highlights in a greatest hits-style lineup of performances.
Suz Tucker
November 30, 2021

Overview

The Australian Ballet's Celebration Gala, currently playing at the Sydney Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre, is such an excellent showcase of talent within the company that it's impossible to resist hyperbole.

If you are deeply into ballet or simply have a minor appreciation for the artform of dance in any genre, the Celebration Gala is basically a greatest hits collection of solos and pas de deuxs that inspires you to dig into the superlatives. It's stunning. It's emotional. It's amazing what the human body is capable of.

Among the 2022 program highlights previewed here are evergreen blockbuster bangers like the White Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake and the iconic pas de deux from Act II of The Nutcracker, as well as contemporary pieces including the wrenchingly beautiful Clay — choreographed by brilliant Australian talent Alice Topp, and Chroma by trailblazing British choreographer, Wayne McGregor.

The performances are accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra, flexing the Joan Sutherland Theatre's sound system and acoustics to full effect.

Next year, the huge 2022 program will be brought to stages across Australia under the meticulous and artful oversight of David Hallberg in his second season as Artistic Director. In the meantime, for the dancers' long overdue return to the stage, the Celebration Gala really is just that: a celebration.

Karen Nanasca and Nathan Brook, Australian Ballet

All images: Dan Boud.

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