After a career spanning 18 years, much-loved principal artist of the Australian Ballet, Olivia Bell has announced that she will retire from the stage at the end of the company’s La Sylphide season. Her last show will be in Sydney on Monday 25 November 2013.
Bell is leaving on a high note – in a just-published review of the AB's La Syphide, Dance Australia reviewer Irina Kuminsky describes her as “Regal, stately and flawless… clearly still at the height of her powers”. And Bell has loved her time with the company. “My career with the Australian Ballet has been a magical journey, highlighted by so many unforgettable performances and experiences that I will cherish forever,” she says.
As a mother of three small children, Bell says she is looking forward to spending more time with her family, but is keeping her options open professionally. “I will always be associated with the Australian Ballet and dance and I have a number of exciting goals that I’m working towards in the next phase of my career … so who knows, I may not be hanging up my pointe shoes straight away,” she says enigmatically.
Artistic director of the Australian Ballet David McAllister, echoes Kuminsky’s sentiments almost word for word, and adds that Bell will be sorely missed. “Since joining the company, Olivia has always been a dancer whose elegance and star quality has shone brightly, both on and off stage – a true ballerina,” he says.“She has danced a huge range of repertoire from the great classics to works that have been created especially for her. We will miss her glamour and artistry but celebrate her wonderful career as she leaves us at the height of her powers.”
Dance Australia wishes Olivia Bell all the best in this next stage of her life. We hope you enjoy this selection of photographs of the beautiful Olivia Bell, provided by the Australan Ballet.
Read Irina Kuminsky's review of the Australian Ballet's production of La Sylphide here.
Bell with Adam Bell in Grande Pas Classique.
Bell in Scheherezade. Photo: Jim McFarlane.
Bell in The Merry Widow. Photo: Jeff Busby.
Bell with Steven Heathcote in Manon. Photo: Jim McFarlane.