Alice a ballet for every audience
Melbourne City Ballet is about to embark on an epic tour, including 15 venues in New Zealand and more than in Australia, from Darwin to Dunedin.
Alice in Wonderland, with a cast of 16 dancers, will be on the road for five months, including performances at Kerikeri’s Turner Centre on March 27 and Forum North in Whanga¯rei the next evening, both at 7.30pm.
Two of Australia’s leading choreographers, Melbourne City Ballet’s Michael Pappalardo (artistic director) and Brendan Bradshaw (artistic associate) have collaborated to pay homage to the much-loved Lewis Carroll story, complemented by Tchaikovsky’s arrangement.
Alice In Wonderland tells the story of a young girl who is whisked away to a magical world of wonder. Falling through a rabbit hole, she meets magical creatures both strange and mysterious on her adventure as she finds her way home.
The White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter will all be there. Brendon Bradshaw says the all-new ballet was perfect for all ages, a magical portrayal of the classical story that had been a year in the making.
“It will bring a smile to the faces of ballet audiences with its exquisite choreography, and non-ballet audiences through its dynamic story-telling,” he said.
“I am so delighted to be bringing this ballet to New Zealand, my second home, having spent more than 10 years of my career at the Royal New Zealand Ballet. It is a dream come true to stage this fantastic new ballet across the country.”
The production featured 40 costumes and newly designed tour-able sets, guaranteeing a colourful and playful rendition of the story.