Australian Ballet Company

The Australian Ballet was founded in 1962. The company regularly tours to all the major cities within Australia with lengthy seasons in Sydney at the famous Sydney Opera House and in Melbourne at the Arts Centre.

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The Australian Ballet works in close cooperation with The Australian Ballet School, of which many of the company?s dancers are graduates. Giving approximately 185 performances a year, The Australian Ballet is one of the busiest ballet companies in the world. With a vast repertoire which includes the major classical and heritage works as well contemporary productions, it follows its artistic vision of ?Caring for Tradition, Daring to be Different?. Each year, the company also presents an extensive national Education Programme to further inspire and educate its audiences.

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The company's current Artistic Director is David McAllister, who was a Principal Dancer until being appointed artistic head of the organisation in 2001. The company?s previous Artistic Directors were: Ross Stretton(1996-2001); Maina Gielgud(1983 ? 1996); Marilyn Jones(1979 ? 1982); Anne Wooliams (1976 ? 1977); Sir Robert Helpmann (1965 ? 1976) and the founding Artistic Director, Dame Peggy van Praagh(1962 ? 1974; 1978).

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Box office sales, derived from its strong and loyal audience base, are the foundation of the company?s income stream. It also receives funding from the Australian Federal Government, the Victorianand New South Wales state government bodies, corporate sponsors, private donors and bequestors.

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