Madeleine Eastoe, one of the Australian Ballet’s most loved ballerinas, has announced that she will retire from the stage at the end of the company’s season of Giselle. She will give her final performance in Adelaide on Monday 6 July 2015.
Eastoe’s stage career spans 18 years and has included highlights such as dancing Odette on the opening night of the Australian Ballet’s production of Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake in London. She also danced the role with the AB in Japan in 2007, and Paris and Manchester in 2008. “I am absolutely humbled by people’s support over all these years, says Eastoe. “I look forward to spending more time with my family, in particular my five year old daughter who has just started school, and getting to know myself outside of dance. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
It’s no coincidence that Eastoe has chosen Giselle for her swan song performance. “Ending on Giselle is very significant for me,” she explains. “I was promoted to principal after my debut performance in 2006. Being able to revisit a cherished role in your career is a blessing, especially such a fragile, pure and free spirited character. She adds that she is very happy to be partnered by Kevin Jackson for these final performances.
We hope you enjoy the gallery of photos provided by the Australian Ballet, celebrating the wonderful Madeleine Eastoe. Above: Eastoe in New York City (photo: Lisa Tomasetti), Top to bottom: Eastoe with Kevin Jackson in Swan Lake (photo: Lisa Tomasetti), Eastoe in Cinderella (photo: Jeff Busby), , Eastoe in Swan Lake (photo: Lisa Tomasetti), Eastoe with Jackson in LA (photo: Lisa Tomasetti), Eastoe with Andrew Killian rehearsing Art to Sky (photo: Lynette Wills).
