• Steven McRae as Romeo. Photo: David Kelly.
    Steven McRae as Romeo. Photo: David Kelly.
  • Natasha Kusch as Juliet & Steven McRae as Romeo.  Photo: David Kelly.
    Natasha Kusch as Juliet & Steven McRae as Romeo. Photo: David Kelly.
  • Meng Ningning as Juliet and Hao Bin as Romeo.  Photo: David Kelly.
    Meng Ningning as Juliet and Hao Bin as Romeo. Photo: David Kelly.
  • Natasha Kusch as Juliet & Steven McRae as Romeo. Photo David Kelly.
    Natasha Kusch as Juliet & Steven McRae as Romeo. Photo David Kelly.
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Queensland Ballet: Romeo and Juliet -
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, 27 June - 5 July -

Queensland Ballet’s (QB) final performance of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet on July 5 marked not only the end of a exciting eight-performance season, but also the retirement of long-time principal dancer Rachael Walsh, and coincidentally, the last performance ever in the role of Romeo by Carlos Acosta, who is due to retire in 2016.  

As well as Tamara Rojo and Matthew Lawrence (reviewed here previously), there were four other principal casts, including two QB only casts (Meng Ningning and Hao Bin, and Clare Morehen with Emilio Pavan).

Each of the guest artist partnerships revealed a slightly different approach to their interpretation of the young lovers, with Acosta perhaps the most ardent of the Romeos. Nearing the end of his career as a classical dancer, he nevertheless has a forceful on-stage charisma that is compelling. His partnership with Meng Ningning elicited a performance from her that plumbed previously untapped depths. She was a sweet, fragile Juliet, completely swept away by the passion of Acosta’s Romeo. Their final scene together was enthralling.

Steven McRae encapsulated a younger, devil-may-care Romeo, fervently in love, with no thought of consequence. The immediacy of his portrayal, together with an unfailing clarity of movement and fluid, effortless phrasing made it a captivating performance. His partnering of Natasha Kusch, who beautifully matched his Romeo with a Juliet as fearlessly headstrong, was flawless.

However, the true stars of the season were undoubtedly MacMillan’s nearly 50-year-old work, which, here resonated with a youthful vigour, and the Queensland Ballet dancers. The Royal or Birmingham Royal Ballet this company is not, but it nevertheless took on this icon of the British ballet repertoire and with great commitment and dare I say it, typical Aussie get-up-and-go, made it their own.

- DENISE RICHARDSON

Don't forget about our competition to win Steven MacRae's book Dancer in the Fast LaneHead here to find out how to be in the running to win this beautiful prize.

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