Bolshoi Ballet on radar for city

PERFORMANCES from the world’s best ballet companies look set to be dancing their way toward Cairns.

Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet and the prestigious Royal Ballet from London are scheduled to tour Australia in 2017 and 2018 with the new Munro Martin Parklands perfectly placed to host the world-class shows.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning met arts leaders in Brisbane and said the city’s new $10 million outdoor performance venue was the talk of the town.

“We’re already working with QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) and with the other leading performing arts bodies in opera, ballet, and symphony orchestras, to bring a greater spread of shows to Cairns,” the mayor said.

“They say we now have the facilities in Cairns to make us a standout venue and the people of Cairns are showing tremendous support for the arts.”

Cr Manning said the heads of QPAC and other groups had been actively seeking to work with the council to bring highquality performances to the Far North.

“Certainly visits by bodies such as the Royal Ballet and Bolshoi are well and truly on our radar,” he said.

Last month a capacity crowd packed Munro Martin Parklands for Queensland Ballet’s Tutus on Tour and this month the world famous pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards prompted another sellout show.

Cr Manning said the parklands would transform over the next two years as vines and plants continued to grow, while construction of Cairns Performing Arts Centre hammered on just across the road.

The $66.5 million centre, due for completion in early 2018, and Munro Martin Parklands will form The Precinct.