Q&A with Olivia Bell

We were thrilled to sit with Olivia Bell recently, as the newest appointed member of Ballet Without Borders! Olivia was a principal dancer of The Australian Ballet and currently lives with her husband and 4 children in Melbourne.

1. In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Storytelling. Belonging. Expression

2. What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

That is a bit like asking which is my favourite child…
I always loved performing technically challenging roles with a strong story line. Characters such as Manon, Baroness in Swan Lake, Flavia in Spartacus and Scheherazade are some that come to mind.

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I had a lot of help along the way … I remember extended family buying my pointe shoes when my mum couldn’t, also ballet schools offering me scholarships to support tuition. I won many competitions which offered prize money. If it wasn’t for that support I may not have been able to continue in ballet.

4. What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

There are so many…
I actually don’t believe that many “non ballet people” understand the sacrifices made by everyone in a ballet family… it takes over your spare time, your family time (holidays) your life. I also know that ballet dancers are sometimes seen as uptight, conservative restrained individuals who haven’t lived life to the fullest because of ballet - from my experience on the contrary is true - dancers are free spirited, open minded individuals who develop a strong sense of self from an early age and often gain life skills and independence at a much younger age than most .

5. What are you reading right now?

There are 3 books on my bedside table at the moment but I am mostly reading “Wifedom” by Anna Funder. It is about George Orwell and his relationship with his wife Eileen.
Another book I am reading is ‘The Secret Barrister ‘ stories of the Law and how it’s Broken’. I love real life crime and related stories. Dark stuff that keeps me thinking.
The third book is one I started reading 2 years ago… chipping away slowly. Maybe not worth the mention.

6. 1 thing that most people don't know about you?

Well I actually think that anyone who knows me well knows this about me - I am a passionate knitter… my mum and grandparents all knitted and I learnt from a very young age. Receiving a hand knitted garment is very special- I love making bespoke knits for special people in my life.

7. Why is the work BWB do so important?

BWB brings together 2 things I love - ballet and opportunity. Both are sacred to me and if I can be involved in an organisation which offers this to others then I feel an immediate connection. Sharing the love of a platform of expression which has given me immense joy and fulfilment is invaluable.

8. Favourite ballet to watch?

Another tough one to answer because ballet to me is so much more than the visual and the steps.  Music makes up so much of a performance, so does connecting with your character and audience. Because of that I have to love the music as much as the choreography, therefore most Tchaikovsky ballets are my favourites.

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

The advice I would give myself is to give more thank you’s and gratitude along the way. So many people helped me achieve my dream and I would go back in time and thank them all individually.

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

teach it to dance!!!

Q&A with Drew Hedditch

We are so pleased to interview Drew Hedditch, current artist with the Australian Ballet and one of our newest appointed Board Members.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Passion, expression, refinement

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

I find it really hard to name just one, and I’m sure that most dancers would say the same thing! I’ve
danced many ballets that I would consider a favourite but the roles within them are what I would
consider a dream, or have perhaps discovered are a dream from having had the opportunity to
dance them. Lescaut in the ballet ‘Manon’ would be a dream role that id definitely like to perform
one day, and Mercutio in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a dream role that I’ve already had the chance to perform.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe that ballet still has a long way to go in terms of being accessible. I know that ticket prices to attend a show are relatively expensive and also limited in the locations of performances. I think the Australian Ballet National Tour is a great initiative that has been happening for many years now however it can only happen to a limited amount of locations each year. Australia is very fortunate in the amount of ballet schools that are around however fees for classes are still of quite a high price.

The work that BWB is doing in this area is incredibly admirable and inspiring, hopefully as this charity grows more children will be able to share the passion and joy that ballet has to offer.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

Competitiveness. I think that there is an idea that ballet is incredibly competitive and that you need to “win” or be the best in order to be successful. I really don’t find that the case, it’s an art form full of individual expression that encourages hard work, dedication and most of all teamwork. The way that a corps de ballet will move as one, as a flock of swans on stage for example is breath taking. It doesn’t just happen, its the result of a group of dancers working together, hyper aware, sensitive to each other and an incredible support network. Yes, there will always be an aspect of competition among ballet dancers but I find it more healthy than not, an encouragement of sorts to be the best that we can be.

What are you reading right now?

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J.Maas. Part of the A court of Thorns and Roses series.

One thing that most people don't know about you?

I’m a huge AFL fan, you’ll often find me at the MCG on a weekend.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

BWB is able to give the gift that many children or even parents might not realise they needed. The joy that ballet or dance in general can bring to a child, or a parent who’re able to see their child dance is unparalleled. To be able to provide dance classes in underprivileged areas where a child may have never experienced dance, could well be the first spark of inspiration for the future of arts in this country. In my opinion the program that BWB offers could also be a huge step forward for more indigenous children to be inspired to peruse ballet, perhaps to even become a dancer or be involved in the arts. BWB is also providing scholarships that help young dancers and their family’s pay for their dance classes. I was very fortunate to have a very supportive family and attend a dance school that supported me but I know that my family still struggled at times to pay my tuition. To think that now there is a charity that is helping children and their family’s make sure that a child can continue to dance is truly heartwarming, something that means a lot to me and I’m sure resonates with many others too.

Favourite ballet to watch?

Le Lac des Cygnes. Rudolf Nureyev’ Swan Lake

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

Search for the best artist that you can be, don’t be afraid to try new things and more importantly don’t be afraid to fail. It will only lead to growth and that vulnerability will shape you into a better, stronger version of yourself.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

Do be my best to train it and become friends with it, what a great pet!

Q&A with Kathleen Hamilton

This month we had the pleasure of interviewing Artistic Director of Australian Institute of Classical Dance, Kathleen Hamilton who are also one of our latest partners to support the work that we do.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Emotion, being, giving.

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

A pas de deux choreographed to a favourite adagio piece of music. I think it is the music which compels one to dance. I had the good fortune of dancing a pas de deux to Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise”. It was like stepping into heaven each time we performed it.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

No, I don’t think ballet is readily accessible because of the expense to go and see ballet live and the expense of lessons and dance gear for those wanting to learn ballet. Other arts, such as singing, music or acting, can accessed by community-based clubs or groups but not for ballet. In this country, visual arts seem to be well catered for in the way of public art galleries but the performing arts have always struggled from not enough government funding. In countries where the performing arts are well subsidised, the access to reasonably priced tickets is much better.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

Ballet is often thought of as an elite art to view and an elite activity for children to learn because of the expense involved. It would be great to bring ballet into the early learning and primary school education system as a part of the sports subjects, combining it with other forms of dance and using ballet exercised as part of warming up for track and field, ball games and other sports activities. Ballet might become recognized as a fitness and good health activity as well as an art form. This might encouraging more interest and understanding of ballet.

What are you reading right now?

“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett.

One thing that most people don’t know about you?

I am pretty much an open book so I can’t think of anything that most people don’t know about me. I try not to despair of the violence and abuse of power in the world but focus on the amazing human, creative, spirit which has enhanced our world throughout history.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

I think some people are born dancers but for lack of encouragement or opportunity in life, miss out on fulfilling their talent. BWB could be a game changer for these circumstances.

Favourite ballet to watch?

Kenneth McMillans “Romeo and Juliet” and Fredrick Ashton’s “A Mid-Summer Nights Dream” Both ballets tell the stories so well and both are so musically choreographed.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell my 15yr old self to forget about being shy, have the confidence to push oneself forward and instead of being afraid of failing, learn from experiences and not to lose self-awareness and confidence.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I would rally around friends, family and community and make it a communal challenge to find local accommodation, food and nurturing for the Elephant. A challenge shared is a challenge solved and the joy of success is also shared.

Q&A with Franziska Rosenzweig

Franziska Rosenzweig, founder of Holistic Ballet® and creator of the Holistic Ballet DVD series, was born in Berlin, East Germany. After graduating from the State Ballet School in Berlin, she danced with the German State Opera Berlin (now Staatsballet Berlin) and the Peter Schaufuss Ballet in Denmark. In 1998, Franziska relocated to London, transitioning from a freelance artist to a ballet teacher, concurrently adding Gyrotonic®, Pilates, and yoga to her skill set. Her teaching engagements spanned locations like India, and included professional dance companies like Random Dance, Richard Alston, and Ballet Prejlocaj. Presently, Franziska teaches amateur dancers at Pineapple Dance Studios and her studio in East London.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

complex, challenging, life-changing

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite part of dancing was Tchaikovsky pas de deux. I loved the female solo the first time I saw it and I was fortunate to be given that role a few years later. I wish I could have danced it with the knowledge I have now to make it even more enjoyable.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe the UK has varied outreach programmes for school children. However, to attend more serious ballet training without being on the path of a professional dancer and a scholarship may be very costly.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set

straight?  

As I am in the field of amateur adult ballet training, the most common misconceptions are that one has to be young and flexible to attend ballet classes, and probably female too.

What are you reading right now?

I just started reading ‘Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky. I am not sure whether I will manage to read the entire volume but as I am also a trained hypnotherapist, I am fascinated by the way our minds work. That’s another thing I wish I had known more about during my active dancing career.

One thing that most people don’t know about you?

My great dislike for chamomile tea.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

There would be too many things to list. But to name a few: every child should have the right to explore and express themselves kinetically through dance. Moreover, movement and dance education help to counteract the negative physical and mental consequences of our sedentary culture and screen time addiction. In our current society, where anything that does not promise immediate measurable profit is seen as dispensable, we need organisations like BWB to challenge these ideologies and show how crucial movement and dance are the the development of children’s social skills and their evolving brains.

Favourite ballet to watch?

I was absolutely mesmerised by Sharon Eyal’s Half-Life that the Berlin Staatsballet streamed for free during lockdown. I usually find it difficult to watch dance on a screen but this piece and the incredible dancers drew me in completely. I hope to get the chance to watch it live one day.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would encourage my younger self to find a confidant to talk to. As a teenager, I was extremely withdrawn and dealt with my problems on my own instead of seeking mental and emotional support.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I guess, I would have to give up my life as it is, take my cat Herbert, and move to a place where Icould make a home for us and the elephant.

Q & A with Chloe Angyal

Meet Chloe Angyal, the author of Turning Pointe-How a new generation of dancers is saving ballet from itself. Turning Pointe is a book about the future of ballet, and a reckoning with all the forces – racism, sexism, elitism, and more – that endanger that future.

Chloe originally hails from Sydney and is now based in Iowa in the US.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Tradition, progress, potential.

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

I'd want to be a Wili! The corps work in the second act of Giselle is so intense and beautiful, and who doesn't want to belong to a sorority of vengeful ghost brides?

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

No. It's exclusive in so many ways: it's expensive to train and to watch, it's unaccepting of those who fall outside of a strict gender binary, and it's generally a hostile environment for dancers of colour, especially Black dancers and most especially Black girls and women.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

Inside the ballet world, I think there's a misconception that ballet cannot and does not change, and that's simply untrue. The history of ballet is a history of radical change; it's what has allowed the artform to survive as the world around it changes. Those inside the ballet world are too willing to call stagnation or oppression "tradition," and that threatens the future of the art form.

What are you reading right now?

Heartbreaker, by Sarah MacLean. I love a good romance novel.

Ballet without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?

Strip tuition down to what's actually essential to pay teachers well and make sure kids get a safe and fulfilling experience. Put teachers of colour in every dance school, regardless of the racial makeup of the students, so that all ballet students grow up seeing people of colour as dance leaders and as sources of knowledge about the art form. Commission dozens of new story ballets that tell new stories from around the world, not the same old European fairy tales ballet has been rehashing for the last two centuries. Design and bring to market a safe, affordable, durable pointe shoe in as many skin tones as possible.

Favourite ballet to watch?

After the Rain, by Christopher Wheeldon.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I'd go back to age 12, when I was told that my body wasn't right for ballet, and when I started believing that made me a failure. I'd tell myself that ballet technique has no moral valence, and that being good at ballet doesn't make you a good person. It just makes you good at ballet.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

In exchange for food and care at a sanctuary, I'd lend it for stud services, so that we can rebuild elephant populations in the wild.

Q&A with Vicki Attard

This month we have an interview with Vicki Attard. Vicki has had an amazing professional career including former principal artist with The Australian Ballet and having had the role of Interim Director of the Houston Ballet Academy. Vicki has been instructing at many major Sydney institutions over the past 21 years and has produced her own unique pointe programs, entitled ‘My Beginner Pointe’ and ‘My Pointe’, which are all- encompassing programs specifically designed for young dancers and dance teachers alike, covering the safe dance practices and aesthetic components involved in the instruction of pointe work.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

My whole world!

Favourite ballet to dance?

Romeo and Juliet (Cranko), In the Middle Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe), Madam Butterfly (Welch), Jardi Tancat (Nacho Duato). It's impossible to choose just one favourite and I may just give you different answers tomorrow!

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

Yes, I believe ballet is a readily accessible art-form, because in the true sense of those two words, it is 'within reach' or 'easy to get to'. Is it affordable? No, it most certainly is not. Going to the ballet is an expensive venture, however from a different perspective, running a large ballet company involves a grand scale of exorbitant costs, which must be considered in relation to the ticket cost. There is the company's extensive payroll as well as visiting artists for each ballet requiring remuneration as well as lodgings and per diem for the length of contract required. Not to mention Theatre rental, marketing, promotion and associated touring costs.

What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

That if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dream of dancing professionally. There are simply too many variables involved to think that this can be a steadfast reality. Simply wanting it and working hard for it, is just the start, a very important start, but unfortunately just the fundamental beginning of becoming a professional dancer.

5. What are you reading right now?

The Opposite of Fate.

A thing that most people don't know about you?

I left school and accepted an administrative job with Mackay City Council working in a Typing Pool for 2 years, before undertaking an offer from the Australian Ballet School for its three-year diploma course.

Ballet Without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?

I think it would be most gratifying to organise 'a typical day in the life of' with their favourite dancer lasting from sunrise to sunset. This would obviously include participating in general company class mid-morning, watching rehearsals & playing dress-ups.

Favourite ballet to watch?

Romeo and Juliet. The music and story both lend themselves to the most tragic of all stories to be expressed through dance.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would remind myself to focus on the big picture, enjoy the moment, stop worrying about what could happen, remember every precious moment, and to keep a detailed diary so that when you get older you can remember it time and time again.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I would sell my Sydney home, ship the elephant back to its original home and resettle with it. Elephants are highly intelligent with an impressive range of emotions that humans can connect with. They should be treated with the utmost of respect.

Pointe Shoe prep with Senior Artist Valerie Tereshchenko

For World Ballet Day 2021 - we have asked senior artist of the The Australian Ballet and BWB Board member Valerie to share her pointe shoe prep…

Winter School Holiday Workshops

During the winter school holidays BWB ran 2 more workshops in Liverpool and Penrith in collaboration with PCYC. 

We had a wonderful response including 6 boys at our Liverpool workshop! There were many laughs and many plies. The participants enjoyed themselves, learned ballet terminology, steps and choreography as well as fun facts about ballet and nutrition. 

More workshops and locations will be announced soon!

Progress...

Hello Readers,

There has been much progress on the Ballet without Borders front.

Everything from letterheads designed to pointe shoes decorated!

We have our list of schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, we have our letters written and things are ready to move to the next phase.

If you are reading this and have any insights or connections in the Campbelltown, Busby-Miller-Liverpool area or surrounds, we would love to hear from you! Give us a call on 0410668655 or drop us a line at info@balletwithoutborders.org

On another (but still Ballet related) note, the Australian Ballet's Swan Lake was magnificent. So beautiful and the corps were just stunning.  Big congratulations!