Queensland Ballet Reception to celebrate London season of La Sylphide

Well – how wonderful to have you all here!

Kaye and I were enthralled here in Brisbane in March by the dazzling opening night performance of La Sylphide. It was a magical night for us, though maybe surpassed for our granddaughter Sophie in subsequently meeting Peter Pan – I am told she was rendered speechless. As your Patron, I have been delighted – though not surprised – to hear directly from Chairman, Brett Clark, that the Sylphide magic which began in Brisbane continued throughout the London tour in August. Oh that Kaye and I could have been there with you!

How splendid that tonight we are reprising that London success, with the company and its friends and supporters.

Those familiar with the Company’s history will know that, while Queensland Ballet has a significant international touring history, this venture was unprecedented in its scale with sixty-four dancers and crew, a wonderful supporters’ tour, and many, many hours of long and meticulous planning.

That it was done without the certainty of success made it a very bold undertaking. Now I know we shouldn’t be driven by the critics, or the polls.  But we may tonight revel again in the generous reaction of London’s tough circle of dance critics. London’s free newspaper, the Metro, even rated the production as number eight on its list of the Top Ten things to do in London — and that’s no mean feat in a city with such a plethora of attractions.

In an arts funding environment which does not favour risk, it was great to see this tour given such exceptional support by state and federal governments, major sponsors (especially the BG Group and Singapore Airlines) and donors such as Simon and Catriona Mordant and The Richard and Tina Yan Foundation.

Those benefactors understood and shared Li’s vision. Without them, the Company could simply not have taken this beautiful production back to the city where it was last seen a quarter of a century ago. (I used, by the way, to think a quarter of a century was a really long time – the dancers with us tonight would still hold that view!)

On behalf of all Queenslanders, I thank the wonderful sponsors and supporters for enabling our iconic State ballet company to take this major step in building its international reputation.

Now please bear with me: there is a little more! I must also take this opportunity to congratulate the company on its success with Romeo and Juliet in this year’s Australian Dance awards, winning the Outstanding Performance by a Company award for the first time since the awards were established in nineteen ninety-seven.

Kaye and I have already congratulated the Artistic Director on his personal success, as the first ever Australian to be honoured in the Asia Society’s Game Changer Awards. We were very pleased to express those congratulations to Li and Mary at a State Dinner here on 24 September.

These important international awards are presented each year to leaders who are making a transformative difference to the future of Asia and the world. In twenty-fifteen, only eight men and women were selected, and that followed a global survey of more than a thousand people.

I understand Li will be joining his seven fellow awardees at the United Nations in New York next week to receive his award.

Li, I speak for all Queenslanders, in saying how greatly we treasure your pivotal involvement with the company, and Mary’s support.

This international honour for Li, like the prestige Australian Dance award for the company, the company’s triumphal tour to London, and the unprecedented results at the box office, adds further to the burgeoning reputation of our wonderful and exciting State company.

Kaye and I look forward to another exhilarating year ahead. Queensland Ballet, you are stunning contributors to the spirit of our people.

Thank you all!