The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet presented Coppelia in two performances at the Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Dec 18. It was a new production by Maina Gielgud, a former artistic director of the Australian and Danish ballet companies. (Her Giselle was recently performed by the Australian Ballet). It featured Victoria Norris as Prayer, Hana Glasgow-Palmer as Swanilda's sister (a role created for her) and Scott Mullen as Dr Coppelius, as well as a richness of character dancing. Guest artists from the Tokyo Ballet, Maria Kawatani and Arata Miyagawa, performed the lead roles. Miyagawa has also danced in Moscow and for the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Peter Bandy, a former Resident Conductor of the Australian Ballet, conducted the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Orchestra led by Susan Pierotti.
- IRINA KUZMINSKY