Queensland Ballet’s opening night of The Nutcracker unfolded with an extraordinary and deeply felt intervention, as company dancers stepped forward before the curtain call to address the audience directly. Their message was clear: Queensland needs stronger federal investment in its flagship ballet company, and the artists themselves are asking the public to help secure it.
The dancer-led petition, Parity Is The Pointe, has rapidly gained momentum. At the time of writing, over 2,700 people have signed, signalling strong public concern about the sustainability of the company’s current funding model. The petition argues that Queensland Ballet receives the lowest federal allocation of any major Australian dance organisation, while the Queensland Ballet Academy receives no federal support at all.
The dancers’ statement outlines the consequences with stark clarity. This year alone, 27 roles were made redundant, including eight dancers. Salaries have fallen 6.8 per cent behind CPI since 2020, with some artists relying on parental help to meet living costs and others cutting their grocery budgets to unsustainable levels. “We are at risk of losing our ability to give Queensland the art it deserves,” the petition reads.
Their call urges the House of Representatives to increase Queensland Ballet’s funding through the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework, bringing it into line with its peer companies. For the dancers, parity is not only a matter of fairness, but one of long-term viability—ensuring that Queensland can continue to nurture homegrown talent while retaining the company’s artistic excellence and broad community reach.
Following the public onstage plea, Queensland Ballet issued a statement to its community. Executive Director Dilshani Weerasinghe and Artistic Director Ivan Gil-Ortega acknowledged the dancers’ independent campaign and affirmed that the company will continue its own advocacy efforts. They noted their support for “all voices advocating for the wellbeing and advancement of artists, arts workers, and arts students in Queensland,” while expressing gratitude to audiences, families, donors and partners for their continued commitment.
The dancers’ moment onstage has reverberated far beyond the Playhouse, prompting broader reflection on how the arts are resourced in Australia and what is required to sustain companies that serve rapidly growing communities. It was a striking reminder, delivered on the opening night of a cherished ballet, that the future of Queensland Ballet depends not only on artistry but on the structural support that allows that artistry to flourish.