Australian Ballet taps ABT's Ross Stretton as its next leader.Melbourne - Australian Ballet Australian Ballet, national ballet company of Australia, founded in Melbourne in 1962; its school was established in 1964. The company drew on the tradition established (1940) by Edouard Borovansky of the Ballets Russes (see Diaghilev, S. P.). has picked former AB principal dancer A principal dancer is similar to a soloist in dance. However, principals are hired by a ballet or dance company to perform not only solos, but also pas de deux. A principal may be male or female. Ross Stretton Ross Stretton (6 June, 1952 - 16 June, 2005) was an Australian ballet dancer and artistic director. As a dancer, he performed with the Australian Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. as its next artistic director, effective January 1, 1997, Australian Ballet Foundation chairman Tim Cox Tim Cox is director and writer whose primary work consists of Sci Fi Pictures original films. He began his career as a storyboard artist for commercials and music videos. Selected credits
"We are delighted to have found someone of Mr. Stretton's outstanding caliber," Cox says. Stretton is excited. "Ever since I left Australia," says the native Australian, "I've always kept up with what was going on at the company: what choreographers were being used, what young dancers had come up. I never thought of going after this job, though." That changed in December 1994, when AB's board told Gielgud it would replace her in two years; and Stretton sought the leadership post of the company he had danced with until he left in 1979 to join Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Ballet, one of the major American dance companies. It was founded in New York City in 1954 by the dancer-choreographer Robert Joffrey. From 1956 to 1964 it made yearly tours of the United States. . Stretton joined ABT ABT About ABT Abteilung (German: Department) ABT Abbott Laboratories (stock symbol) ABT American Ballet Theatre ABT Associação Brasileira de Telemarketing ABT Abort ABT Availability Based Tariff in 1980, rising to the rank of principal in 1983. Stretton's calm, stable personality makes him popular with the Australian dance community. AB had earlier offered him a position as assistant to Gielgud, but he wasn't ready to make the move and to jump into the politically volatile climate that has characterized the company for the last two years. The board's decision to replace Gielgud came after she was criticized by some board members and dancers, even as others defended her. [Presstime press·time n. The time at which a publication, especially a newspaper, is submitted for printing. News, December 1995, page 46.] Stretton is eager to follow in Gielgud's footsteps. "The company is in peak condition," he says. "Maina Gielgud has sown fertile seeds. I have no doubt that the company I will inherit will be one of great artistic and technical integrity....On a recent visit to one of the company's choreographic workshops, I was very impressed. They presented at least ten works of high enough caliber to be in the repertory of any major company." Stretton praises the two resident choreographers Gielgud has cultivated. "Stanton Welch and Stephen Baynes show what the Australians can do," he says. "What I want to do is bring more international choreographers to the company. I want to open it up to the best in the world - people like Jiri Kylian, Mark Morris, and Twyla Tharp." Next in AB's immediate future is its 1996 season, which starts February 23 in Melbourne with the company premiere of Kylian's Stepping Stones, paired with Erik Bruhn's La Sylphide. AB will also perform in Sydney, Canberrra, Adelaide, and Brisbane, and tour Asia in October. Premieres by Stephen Page, Meryl Tankard, and Welch will be given in November. Page is one of the first Aboriginal artists to set work on the company. |
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