The Royal Ballet to leap from QPAC to Cairns for one night only

The acclaimed Royal Ballet will give a special one-night-only performance in Cairns next month as part of the QPAC International Series, bringing the world’s best performers to regional Queensland.

Representing the Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said this unique event meant north Queenslanders would enjoy a live outdoor performance from one of the world’s finest ballet companies right on their own doorstep.

“I am thrilled that this performance, as part of the 2017 QPAC International Series, will see a selection of dancers from The Royal Ballet travel to Cairns for a one-night-only Gala Performance, in the Munro Martin Parklands on Wednesday 12 July,” he said.

“It’s a coup for Queensland to secure The Royal Ballet’s Australian premiere season at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Now we have gone one better and secured a special Gala Performance in Cairns for north Queenslanders.

“This delivers on my commitment to keep bringing world-class performers to Queensland, including to our regional areas, and to provide cultural tourism experiences that have real economic benefits.”

The Gala Performance, featuring around 15 of The Royal Ballet company’s dancers – including Principal dancers Marianela Nuñez, Edward Watson and Australian Alexander Campbell, and fellow Australian dancer Calvin Richardson – includes a special series of short solo and pas de deux works, including moments from Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Le Corsaire and Don Quixote.

“The dancers will be accompanied on stage by four musicians – two pianists from The Royal Ballet and a violinist and cellist,” he said.

The Gala Performance in Cairns would follow The Royal Ballet’s two Australian-premiere works, Woolf Works and The Winter’s Tale, performed exclusively at QPAC from 29 June to 9 July 2017 in Brisbane.

“The Royal Ballet’s performances will no doubt attract attendees from across Australia and beyond to our state once again, and the opportunity to take elements of the Series to regional areas, such as Cairns for this Gala Performance, furthers Queensland’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.

“By creating opportunities for cultural exchange across Queensland, the QPAC International Series is building a tangible legacy for the state’s cultural sector.” “The Royal Ballet’s performances in Queensland will no doubt attract attendees from across Australia and beyond to our state, and this special performance in Cairns will draw even more people to the beautiful tropics of Queensland to enjoy one of the world’s leading ballet companies performing live in the great outdoors,” he said.

“The opportunity to bring elements of QPAC’s international Series with the Royal Ballet to regional areas, such as Cairns furthers Queensland’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.”

The Mayor of Cairns Regional Council, Councillor Bob Manning, said he was delighted The Royal Ballet would perform at the Munro Martin Parklands.

“We feel this beautiful venue will provide the ideal backdrop for this special outdoor performance,” Councillor Manning said.

“I’d like to thank the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the Queensland Government for their support in bringing members of The Royal Ballet to Cairns. We hope this represents an ongoing partnership to share world-class events in our region.”

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said a key aim of the QPAC International Series was to offer a broad range of opportunities for community engagement both in Brisbane and across Queensland.

“Big events such as bringing The Royal Ballet to Queensland are a huge undertaking for QPAC and we want as many people as possible to experience and engage with this renowned company while they are here,” Mr Kotzas said.

Tickets for the QPAC performances are on sale via qpac.com.au or 136 246.

The QPAC International Series is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

The Cairns performance on Wednesday 12 July is also supported by Arts Queensland’s Playing Queensland Fund. It is co- presented by QPAC and Cairns Regional Council.

The evening will feature the Gala Performance by The Royal Ballet, along with performances by QPAC’s 2017 International Series We All Dance participants and NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) Dance College students.

NAISDA Dance College is a national training organisation in the performing arts and works to shape Australia’s creative and cultural artists. They will be proudly dancing Sand to Stage on Darkinjung land.

Tickets are on sale now via www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835.

Media can download footage and images at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w3d0k2gogwdbmcf/AAACvkGRbs6i3oGfMhDlfKAOa?dl=0