22 October 2012: The Australian Ballet’s incredible Pas de deux in Paradise will be performed at luxury resort qualia from 16 – 18 November 2012 (www.qualia.com.au/events/australia-ballet).

Marking the 50th anniversary of The Australian Ballet, 2012 is also the 5th anniversary of the internationally acclaimed arts company’s exclusive annual performances at qualia.

Principal Artists Adam Bull, Lana Jones and Amber Scott, and Senior Artist Rudy Hawkes, will be dancing excerpts from some of Ballet’s most loved works: After the Rain ©, Giselle, Manon and Stephen Baynes’ brand new Swan Lake, accompanied by Artistic Director David McAllister.

The Pas de Deux in Paradise weekend begins on the Friday evening with a welcome dinner at the Long Pavilion, prepared by qualia’s Executive Chef, Alastair Waddell. A Q&A session during the mouth-watering meal is held with The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister and the dancers.

On Saturday morning, guests will be treated to an exclusive viewing of the dancers warming up at 'Morning Barre', prior to a simply stunning, pre-dinner performance. The stage will be set by the water’s edge at qualia’s Pebble Beach, and nothing else is needed as the breathtakingly beautiful Coral Sea and Whitsunday islands form the exquisite natural backdrop. The event is emceed by Getaway travel presenter and Pas de Deux in Paradise devotee, Catriona Rowntree.

The ballet works are;
Giselle; A stirring tale of innocent love, betrayal, madness, tragedy and redemption, Giselle is one of the ultimate romantic ballets. Rudy Hawkes and Lana Jones will begin the evening with the Act II pas de deux and solos.
Manon; Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon is a sumptuous treat. Based on the classic novel by Abbé Prévost, this tale of obsession, passion, greed and betrayal is a dancer favourite. Adam Bull and Amber Scott will delight audiences with the bedroom pas de deux.
After the Rain ©; A seamless marriage of music and movement, After the Rain© is an intimate portrayal of what contemporary ballet legend Christopher Wheeldon describes as “an unspoken love affair that is consummated only onstage”. A heartbreakingly tender pas de deux is the centrepiece of this work and will showcase the talents of Rudy Hawkes and Lana Jones.
Swan Lake; For the evening’s finale, Adam Bull and Amber Scott will perform the moving Act II pas de deux from Stephen Baynes’ Swan Lake. With the tropical Queensland water replacing Tchaikovsky’s frozen lake, Swan Lake will be a fitting end to a moonlit evening of ballet.

David McAllister, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, believes this is a ballet event not to be missed. ‘Our dancers love performing under the stars at qualia and will be dancing excerpts from four truly breathtaking ballets this year. For anyone wanting to combine an island holiday with the ballet, it’s an unbeatable combination,’ McAllister said.

Recently named Best in the World and Best Resort in the Oceania region in the 2012 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, qualia is nestled intimately on the edge of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Its unique design harmoniously blends in with the surrounding natural environment, and its 60 luxurious pavilions are an indulgent space to unwind in, with either a sundeck or private infinity edge plunge pool. The resort's outstanding facilities include two tranquil infinity-edged pools, two bars and restaurants, a private dining room, library, fitness centre and Spa qualia.

For more information visit www.qualia.com.au/events/australia-ballet.  

-ENDS-

Media contacts and image library: www.qualia.com.au/media-centre
Sophie Baker, Senior Communications Manager, Hamilton Island Enterprises
e: sbaker@hamiltonisland.com.au t: +61 (0)427 109 503

Nicole Lovelock, The Australian Ballet
e: nicolel@australianballet.com.au t: +61 (0)428 135 546

Michelle Crowshaw, Trade Communications Manager, Hamilton Island Enterprises
e: mcrowshaw@hamiltonisland.com.au t: +61 (0)417 065 173

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/qualia  
Instagram: Connect with us: @qualiaresort, Mention us: #qualia
Twitter: @qualia

Notes to editors:
qualia, Australia's world class luxury resort on the Great Barrier Reef, is located on the secluded and breathtakingly beautiful northern-most point of Hamilton Island. qualia has 60 elegant one-bedroom pavilions and a Beach House, each set among eucalyptus trees with postcard views of the idyllic blue and green waters of the Whitsundays. Two superb restaurants and Spa qualia cater exclusively to guests of the resort. Hamilton Island can be accessed directly from all east coast international gateway cities in less than three hours. qualia is a member of Relais & Châteaux and welcomes guests 16 years and over.

Image: Leanne Stojmenov, Principal Artist The Australian Ballet by Andrea Francolini.
*Cast subject to change due to illness or any unavoidable cause.

Biographies:

Adam Bull was born in 1981 and began training at Dance World 301 with Brian Nolan before joining The Australian Ballet School. In 2000, he represented Australia in the Paris International Ballet Competition, before graduating from The Australian Ballet School with honours in 2001. Adam joined The Australian Ballet in 2002, going on to dance soloist and principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Graeme Murphy, Christopher Wheeldon, Stephen Baynes, Stanton Welch, Nicolo Fonte and Wayne McGregor. After just six months as a senior artist, Adam was promoted to the highest rank of principal in June 2008, capping off a string of critically acclaimed lead performances. Performances in principal lead roles in the company's tours to Paris, London, Manchester and Japan have also been career highlights.

Lana Jones was born in Coffs Harbour but moved soon after to Canberra, where she commenced her ballet training at the Canberra Youth Ballet School. She moved to Melbourne in 1999 to attend The Australian Ballet School, graduating dux to join The Australian Ballet in 2002. In 2005 she was promoted to coryphée and won the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, the highest accolade of its kind for Australian Ballet dancers. A rising star within the ranks, Lana’s dancing has been critically acclaimed as 'joyous and effervescent', with one writer declaring her performance in George Balanchine's Apollo as 'supernatural'. Lana was promoted to principal artist in 2010.

Amber Scott joined The Australian Ballet School at age eleven. After graduating as dux, Amber joined The Australian Ballet in 2001. In 2003 she spent four months on a dancer exchange at the Royal Danish Ballet, giving her the opportunity to learn the Bournonville technique firsthand. A lyrical and musical dancer, Amber relishes the many different genres in the company’s repertoire. Performing traditional fairytale and dramatic full-length ballets are career favourites. Amber was promoted to principal artist in 2011. Career highlights include working with Wayne McGregor on Dyad 1929 in 2009, and with Stephen Page on Rites in 2006 and 2008; dancing with guest artist Robert Tewsley during the 2008 Manon season; and performing Odette with Adam Bull in Paris and Manchester in 2008 and Tokyo and Nagoya in 2010.

Rudy Hawkes joined his local dance school at the age of seven, where he spent several years learning jazz, tap, and contemporary ballet. Ipswich-born, he studied at the Shayne McCormick Dance Centre and Brisbane Dance Centre before joining the Queensland Dance School of Excellence. He moved to Melbourne in 2002 to take up a position at The Australian Ballet School. In 2004 Rudy was selected to participate in a student exchange to New York and Toronto, taking classes with the American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company. He joined The Australian Ballet in 2005 and was promoted to soloist for the 2011 season. Rudy has enjoyed working with many choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon, Stephen Page and Stephen Baynes.