The passion, beauty, stunning costumes and magic of using music and dance to tell a story; it’s the dream of many children who take up ballet classes. But how does that childhood fantasy become a reality, what is involved in turning dance classes into a career and what happens when injury threatens to shatter the only dream you’ve ever had?
NOVA Entertainment and The Australian Ballet have partnered to create Meet Me at the Barre – a compelling podcast series that steps into the world of ballet, unveiling the stories behind one of Australia’s most respected creative companies.
Throughout this six-part podcast series Amber Petty has met some inspiring and imaginative people from The Australian Ballet. Meet Me at the Barre unveils the stories, human spirit and creative talent behind the scenes of The Australian Ballet, the blood, sweat and tears behind the beauty and imagination of dance, and ballet as an art form.
The series began with The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister lifting the curtain on the day to day life of one of the world’s leading ballet companies. Continuing the magic Principal Artists Ako Kondo and Chengwu Gou shared their fairytale love story, paired as love interests on-stage, the newly engaged couple discuss how this led to their own love story.
Principal Artist Amber Scott takes us into her magical world and reflects on her career and the woman she is today and the fact she will be dancer even when she’s 90, Principal Artist Kevin Jackson speaks candidly about working on his physique and how he has already begun to prepare for Lucas Jervis’ new production Spartacus, while music powerhouse and Music Director and Chief Conductor Nicolette Fraillon delves into the bond between ballet, music and the human connection between the players and the dancers.
In this final episode, to be launched on Saturday 16 December, global star David Hallberg reflects with Amber Petty on his incredible journey from suffering a potentially career ending injury to his triumphant return to the stage. Undertaking rehabilitation with The Australian Ballet company led to an intense period of self-reflection and realisation that sometimes when something you love appears to be over, a far greater gift begins to emerge.
Fresh from his recent guest performance with The Australian Ballet, and the launch of his first book, A Body of Work – Dancing to the Edge and Back, Hallberg also shares his experiences as a collaborator with Nike and Tiffany & Co.
For more information, or to listen to the Meet Me at the Barre Podcast Series, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Image: David Hallberg in rehearsal at The Australian Ballet – photo by Kate Longley