Qld Ballet receives funding boost

The Queensland Ballet has received a large funding boost. Queensland Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced it will increase its grant by an additional $1.2m annually from 2016. In addition, the company has received $5 million sum from the Ian Potter Foundation (the biggest it has ever awarded in Queensland) specifically toward the upgrade of its premises at the Thomas Dixon Centre.

Artistic Director Li Cunxin says he is was humbled by the shared belief in the future of Queensland Ballet.

“We have a bold vision for Queensland Ballet to truly connect meaningfully with our audiences and communities in Queensland, Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond,” Mr Li said. That includes employing eight extra dancers over the next four years, thereby increasing performances, outreach, and touring, and exchanges. The company has an ambitious aim to be a ballet hub in the Asia-Pacific.

In the meantime, the QB has welcomed four new dancers and seven new Young Artists.
David Power, Liam Geck and Georgia Swan come from the company's Young Artists program, while ZuQuan Kou hails from the Liaoning Ballet in China.

“I first saw Kou dance that I was judging earlier this year,” artistic director Li Cunxin says.
"Kou won the gold medal at the at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (BIBCC)  and certainly stood out as a remarkable dancer."

The QB's first production of the year will be A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreographed by the acclaimed choreographer, Liam Scarlett (April 1-16).

The new Jette Parker Young Artists come from both the company's training programs and from external ballet schools. Harley Campbell, Zoe Doonar, Harry Davis and Samuel Packer are graduates of the Pre-Professional Program. Wu Ze comes from the Shenyang Dance School in China, Yayoi Matches from the New Zealand School of Dance, and German dancer Tim Neff is from the Zurich Dance Academie.

Principal dancer Hao Bin is leaving the company after four-and-a-half years. Sarah Thompson, Mia Thompson and Nathan Brook will also not return in 2016 as they seek opportunities to dance with other companies. Nathan Brooks is joining the Australian Ballet.

You can watch Su Quan's gold medal winning performance here: