The Friends are a charitable organisation established in 1973 to assist The Australian Ballet financially and to provide scholarships and bursaries for promising dancers, choreographers, designers and musicians.
Fairwater Garden Party
The Friends of the Australian Ballet were delighted that over 550 guests attended the Garden Party at Fairwater, the home of our founding president Lady Fairfax.
MAO'S LAST DANCER - Sydney premiere
The Australian feature film Mao’s Last Dancer tells the inspirational true story of Li Cunxin. Adapted from his best-selling autobiography and telling how, amidst the chaos of Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution, he was chosen to leave his peasant family and sent on an amazing journey… as it turned out, a journey towards freedom and personal triumph.
Li’s story unfolds as China was emerging from Chairman Mao’s Grand Vision. It could not have been a better time for Li Cunxin to discover the West and for the West to discover Li Cunxin. This film is about how Li overcame adversity through discovering and exploring his natural abilities and talent as a great classical dancer. This meant not only dealing with his own physical limitations but also eventually the punishment meted out by a highly suspicious Chinese government after Li’s defection to the US.
In America Li found a completely different and captivating new world – but there were other difficulties he could never have imagined. Even with the support of many friends there was still isolation and despite his growing fame there was still uncertainty for his future.
Acclaimed producer, Jane Scott (Shine, Head On), has assembled an impressive team to create a movie of this poignant yet triumphant story. Directed by twice Academy Award nominated director Bruce Beresford (Breaker Morant, Driving Miss Daisy) from a stunning adaptation by screenwriter Jan Sardi (Shine, The Notebook, Love’s brother).
The film stars Chi Cao and Chengwu Guo as Li Cunxin (adult and teenager), Joan Chen, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Jack Thompson, Amanda Scchull, Camilla Vergotis, Steven Heathcote, Madeleine Eastoe, and dancers of The Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company.
The Friends of The Australian Ballet, together with The Australian Ballet’s Special Events Committee hosted the world premiere of this highly anticipated film at the State Theatre on Monday 21st September 2009.
For more information, please click here
To visit the film’s website please click here
The Friends' 4th Annual Afternoon Tea
Colin Peasley, Councillor Tanya Barrington and Adrian Burnett
On Sunday 2 August, 120 guests gathered to be entertained with anecdotes about the life of Sir Robert Helpmann from the Guest Speaker Colin Peasley at the 4th Annual Friends’ Afternoon Tea. Colin, a talented former dancer and the Director of Education at The Australian Ballet, is well known as an entertaining speaker with passion for the world of ballet. He provided an insight into Helpmann’s life, which enthralled and delighted all in attendance.
Race Day wrap up
Striking hat. Alan Jackson, Deputy Chairman of the Friends, once again organised a glorious luncheon in the Director’s Suite of Canterbury Racecourse on Wednesday 29th July 2009.
There was fun on and off the field with many Friends taking the opportunity to have a flutter; some came out ahead whilst others, including the Executive Coordinator Claudia Mills, possibly should have studied the form guide rather than the menu.
With many ladies donning elaborate hats and fascinators, competition was fierce for best-dressed prizes and the gentlemen were not left out of the fashion stakes with prizes also awarded for best tie.
Ever an engaging speaker, Kenneth Watkins, Director of Private Giving, gave those present a behind-the-scenes snapshot of progress in the rehearsal studios in preparation for Concord. It sounds a truly fantastic program and we at Friends HQ are very much looking forward to it and we’re sure you are too!
Proceeds from ticket sales and the raffle held on the day will go into the kitty to be donated to The Australian Ballet, a feel good by-product of Friends simply having fun.
Next year we hope to return Race Day to its traditional August date so start planning your outfit now!
