The Ballet International Gala (BIG) will embark upon its second series of shows in Queensland, this coming August, with two performances set to take place at The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre between the 26th–27th August 2022.
BIG II is set to be BIG-ger than ever, featuring principal dancers from the world’s leading ballet companies, including: The American Ballet Theatre; Astana Opera Ballet; La Scala Theatre Ballet; Staatsballett Berlin and The Royal Ballet.
These international heavy weights will perform a carefully curated selection of solos and pas de deux from some of the world’s most iconic ballets including: Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Flames of Paris, La Bayadere and Giselle, and will collaborate alongside some of Australia’s own world-class talent, including one of Queensland’s most promising musical acts for a stunning rock, grand finale!
Following the success of BIG’s QPAC series earlier this year – heralded as the first international ballet production to grace an Australian stage since the pandemic – Directors and co-founders, Khalid Tarabay and Joel Burke recognised Australia’s increasing demand and appreciation for world class ballet, and with the announcement of BIG II, have wasted no time in building upon the foundations of what made BIG a crowd favourite.
BIG II will again, be presented in a gala format, and is incredibly proud to have, as a headline artist, one of the most internationally renowned ballet dancers of a generation, La Scala Principal Dancer Etoile, Roberto Bolle.
Known for his exceptional artistry, perfect physique and handsome features, the “Dancing Greek Sculpture,” will take stage for the very first time in Australia alongside Royal Ballet Principal Ballerina, Yasmine Naghdi in a special performance which includes a collaboration with 2021 Young Lev Vlasenko Piano Competition finalist and Young Tasmanian of the Year, Shen-Yuan Lynch. BIG is thrilled to continue its mission of creating pathways for our exceptional Australian talent by inviting the 17-year-old piano prodigy to perform alongside ballet’s greatest artists, with critics describing him as being “fearless on stage” and “a talent to watch.”
Brisbane audiences will be further captivated by another of our generations most internationally renowned and gifted danseurs, the brilliant and charismatic, Daniil Simkin. Simkin will treat Queensland audiences to his world-famous performance of Les Bourgeois. Simkin has not performed in Australia since ABT’s international series in 2014 and will be joined by American Ballet Theatre’s luminary, Skylar Brandt, as she returns to perform Don Quixote which she recently debuted at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
American Ballet’s vibrant Principal, Aran Bell will also return to join Skylar Brandt later in the show for an electric performance of La Bayadere. Audiences who loved the breath-taking performances of Astana Opera Ballet’s Baktiyar Adamzhan and Shugyla Adepkhan in January will be enthralled by the pair’s return performance of Flames of Paris, while Shugyla will also join BIG’s very own co-founder Joel Burke for a beautiful performance of Giselle.
BIG II is delighted to welcome back Royal Ballet Company Principal and home favourite, Alexander Campbell who will be joined by fellow Principal Francesca Hayward as they delight audiences with Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, while yet another Royal Ballet Principal, Cesar Corrales will join fellow Principal, Yasmine Naghdi as she returns to the stage for their performance of Le Corsaire.
If that isn’t enough, Juliet Doherty, star from the upcoming ballet feature film, Red Shoes – The Next Step, will again gracefully guide us with her piece into the now famous BIG Finale featuring a collaboration of each of our artists and where favourite local rock band Selfish Sons will return to the Brisbane stage following their recent tour of the USA.
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