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8 unusual facts about West Australian Ballet


Garth Welch

Welch was Artistic Director of the West Australian Ballet from 1980 to 1982 and throughout the 1980s and 1990s taught extensively across Australia.

James Penberthy

He made his home in Perth, Western Australia, where he founded the West Australian Opera Company and was co-founder of the West Australian Ballet with his third wife, the Monaco-born Russian dancer Kira Bousloff.

Malcolm McCusker

In his role as governor, McCusker and his wife serve as the patron for a number of organisations and events, including the Perth International Arts Festival, Telethon, and the West Australian Ballet, and the Western Australian branches of Anglicare, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Royal Life Saving Society, the RSPCA, and St. John Ambulance.

West Australian Ballet

In April 2012, during WAB's 60 year celebrations, the company moved all operations and rehearsals to the West Australian Ballet Centre, a custom designed facility in Maylands, Western Australia.

Luis Moreno succeeded Reid as artistic director in 1973, followed by Robin Haig in 1977, Garth Welch in 1979 and Barry Moreland in 1983.

Moreland's time as Artistic Director heralded the beginning of a series of high profile collaborations including acclaimed visual artist Charles Blackman and choreographer Chrissie Parrott.

The West Australian Ballet or WAB is the State ballet dance company of Western Australia and is based in Perth at the Western Australian Ballet Centre in Maylands.

Other major productions included Marcia Haydee's 'The Sleeping Beauty' (marking WAB's debut at The Burswood Theatre and boasting a cast of over 80), 'Gala' (with guest Principal Artists from The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and The Australian Ballet) and John Cranko's 'The Taming of the Shrew'.



see also

Garth Welch

Since that first piece, he has created many more works for the flagship company as well as pieces for the West Australian Ballet, Ballet Victoria, Ballet Philippines, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Queensland Ballet and the Sydney Dance Company.