The Australian Ballet is delighted to announce that multi-award-winning choreographer Stephanie Lake will join the company in January 2024 as Resident Choreographer.
Ms Lake has been a guest choreographer during The Australian Ballet On Tour 2023 season, having recently debuted her powerful work Circle Electric in Warragul.
She brings a wealth of experience to the role, with her dynamic and captivating artistry which has been met with acclaim across Australia and around the world.
As Resident Choreographer, Ms Lake will continue to inspire dancers and audiences through newly commissioned works for the company.
Providing curatorial support on future programming to Artistic Director David Hallberg and supporting initiatives that broaden the company’s collaborations across the Australian dance sector will also be central to the role.
Ms Lake replaces Alice Topp who will step down from the role in December, ending an illustrious five-year tenure.
“Stephanie has proven herself to be one of the boldest and most ambitious choreographers in the country and is well placed to inspire both our dancers and audiences with her extraordinary artistry,” said The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg.
“We are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to her new artistic home at The Australian Ballet and I look forward to working with her to ensure we continue delivering captivating performances that stand the test of time.”
“I’d also like to thank Alice for her exceptional creative talent over the past five years. She will continue to be part of The Australian Ballet family as her work lives on in our repertoire for many years to come,” said Mr Hallberg.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be asked to be Resident Choreographer of The Australian Ballet. I’m so looking forward to working alongside David Hallberg and being part of his exciting vision for the company and of course to work with the extraordinary dancers and team on creating brand new works,” said Stephanie Lake.
“The significance of being a contemporary choreographer invited into this role with one of the world’s leading ballet companies, is not lost on me. I am deeply honoured and can’t wait to sink my teeth into the big opportunities that lay ahead.”
Born in Canada, but now calling Melbourne home, Ms Lake’s performance career spanned twenty years, touring and dancing extensively with Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc and Phillip Adams’ BalletLab.
As Artistic Director of Stephanie Lake Company, over the past decade she has established herself as a visionary dancemaker with major works which have been performed across Australia and toured internationally, including Colossus, Monsters, Replica, Pile of Bones, Double Blind, DUAL, A Small Prometheus, AORTA and Mix Tape.
Her latest exuberant work, Manifesto, is currently performing at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse until 5 November, after sell-out seasons around the country and in Germany.
In addition to spearheading her own company, Ms Lake sits on the Victorian College of the Arts Advisory Board and is Ambassador for Stompin youth dance company. She’s also a Sidney Myer Creative Fellow, Australia Council Fellow and recipient of the Dame Peggy Van Praagh and Chloe Munro Fellowships.
Her work Circle Electric will be transformed for the main stage in The Australian Ballet’s 2024 season, alongside the beloved Études, which returns to the repertoire after 10 years.
For more information about The Australian Ballet, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Image: Stephanie Lake – photo by Pedro Greig