Although Australia’s capital is not home to resident ballet companies, the city has a vibrant ballet community, perhaps best showcased by studios like Ballet Canberra and Lisa Clark Dance Centre, producing performers who go on to achieve national and international success. But it doesn’t end there. This season, Canberra is also welcoming a glittering production called “We call it Ballet” that beautifully combines classical choreography with a light show.
As six ballet dancers take to the stage of Gungahlin College Theatre to recreate a Tchaikovsky classic, their costumes will light up to reveal changing colours, each expressing a different emotion and feeling. This performance will be held at the renowned performance arts theatre on Gozzard Street on selected dates over the coming months. Places are limited so don’t wait too long to secure your spot.
What is “We call it Ballet”?
“We call it Ballet” is a unique dance and light show that retells the timeless story of The Sleeping Beauty. It maintains the foundations of classical ballet—the choreography and the emphasis on line and form—while introducing a contemporary visual element through costumes embedded with optical fibres.
As six talented dancers glide and pirouette, their movements activate these lights, creating a dynamic interplay between the human form and illumination, making the centuries-old art form accessible to all audiences.
Ballet, its storytelling and the show
Ballet has long excelled at conveying narrative through movement, where each gesture and position contributes to a larger story. “We call it Ballet” honours this tradition by presenting pieces of The Sleeping Beauty, a ballet that has captivated audiences since its premiere in 1890. This classic tale portrays Princess Aurora’s journey from innocent youth to cursed sleeper to awakened bride.
Through its innovative use of light-integrated costumes, with colours shifting to reflect the changing emotional tenor of each scene, audiences are given extra intuitive cues about character relationships and plot developments, complementing the dancers’ physical expressions. It’s a unique, multi-sensory experience that you won’t want to miss.
Discover a ballet performance featuring classical choreography and traditional costumes fitted with lights for a new experience of the famous art form at Gungahlin Theatre. At “We call it Ballet” in Canberra, with two back-to-back performances scheduled for 6:00pm and 8:00pm, you can choose the show that best suits your schedule.