The Australian Ballet’s free annual outdoor community program, Ballet Under the Stars, will travel to regional Victoria for the first time in October 2019 and will be exclusively staged in the Latrobe Valley.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren was joined by The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister and Executive Director Libby Christie today at Lardner Park to make the announcement where thousands of people are expected to flock for the free performance.
Ballet Under the Stars has become a highlight in The Australian Ballet’s annual performance calendar and gives new audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy a high-quality arts experience.
The free family-friendly program was first launched in Melbourne in 1966 and has since grown into a proud tradition that has been performed in Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Canberra. It was last presented in Melbourne in 2014 and has been wildly successful in previous years attracting audiences of up to 9,000 people.
The program is proudly being supported by the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million Regional Events Fund, which helps regional communities attract and stage major events which drive visitation and boost the economy.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has secured more than 60 major events, 320 business events and supported more than 160 events across regional Victoria.
These events have driven record visitor numbers and spending with just over 50 million people visiting regional Victoria and spending some $9.7 billion in the year to March 2018.
Ballet Under the Stars will take place at Lardner Park in the Latrobe Valley in 2019.
Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ballet Under the Stars to regional Victoria for the first time and I encourage everyone make a weekend of this wonderful event and experience the best of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
“Ballet Under the Stars will bring thousands of visitors to the Latrobe Valley, which is great for local businesses and great for the regional economy.”
Quote attributable to The Australian Ballet Executive Director Libby Christie
“The Australian Ballet is thrilled to bring Ballet Under the Stars to Regional Victoria – this is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to experience a world class ballet performance.”
Quote attributable to The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David McAllister
“We’re looking forward bringing The Australian Ballet to regional Victoria and showcasing the artistry, athleticism and beauty of our dancers.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020