COVER STORY International Award-Winning Ballet Rising Star
AUSTEN McDONALD Interview and Story by JASMINA SIDEROVSKI
S
ome of the Ballet Great’s like; Rudolf Nureyev, Vaslav Nijinsky, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Roshon Fegan, Benjamin Millepied, Sergei Vladimirovich, Ivan Vasilev, Steven McRae, Tyler Nelson and more have taken the world by storm as global role models inspiring young and upcoming 21st Century male ballet dancers. In the sublime of all the costumes, scenery, music, stage design and poetry to create a dramatic storyline, originating from aristocratic influence, ballet is a formalised form of dance developed from the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th and 16th Centuries. Ballet spread from Italy to France and founded throughout ballet stages such as the Royal Danish Ballet, Imperial Ballet of the Russian Empire, The Royal Ballet in London, the San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, The New York City Ballet, and The National Ballet of Canada etc. In the 19th century, female ballet dancers were more popular. Ballerinas played male roles in the story. Ballet moved away from the just aristocratic audience. Some famous ballerinas experimented with a new formal element of a ballet called pointe technique. In that way, ballerina got the ideal stage figure. Boxed ballet shoes were developed and stayed as an official part of ballet code. In romantic movement, ballet choreography became free, light, airy, and ballerinas appeared as fragile beings who could be lifted effortlessly, creating the feeling of floating in the air. In the 20th century, Russian ballet was brought back to Paris because of exile after the Revolution. In Russia, there was a stagnation on the ballet scene. The ideological pressure made socialist pieces. However, there were stunning virtuosity, technical perfection, and strength. In America, the ballet adapted to new media, television and movies. The theme somewhat dramatised than a plot. There was more freethinking than a traditional narrative. Traditional tutu was changed by bias cut to give dancer more freedom of movement. Neo-classical ballet developed a style between classical and contemporary ballet. Ballet returned to a more simplistic style, against overly dramatised form. The large sets and props were removed, allowing the dancers to become the primary artistic medium. Contemporary Ballet mixed elements of classical ballet and modern dance. It is not strictly traditional. It has use pointe technique, as well as floor work and turnin of the legs. A great influence on this genre had Mikhail Baryshnikov, Director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980. Our up and coming era of male ballet dancers are young men rising at the International Royal Ballet level and some of the most exciting in dance right now is Australia’s very own 16-year-old, Austen McDonald. Austen recently returned as a Finalist on the World Stage at the 2020 48th Annual Prix de Lausanne held in February. The distinguished jury of the Prix de Lausanne, all professionals of the dance world, selected 84 candidates to participate in the annual prestigious ballet competition held in Montreux, Switzerland just recently. 77 of which that took part in the Prix de Lausanne 2020. Of these 21 48 | eYs Magazine, Winter 2020
Puredynamics Photography were chosen for the finals at the Auditorium Stravinsky in Montreux. To attend the Prix de Lausanne is an experience of a lifetime, and those who participate walk away far more enriched than one could ever anticipate. It is a pivotal point for many and experiencing a week of classes and coaching with the world’s best teachers and choreographers, while simultaneously being assessed by jurors, streamed live and exposed to new opportunities, is beyond compare. Austen McDonald was born In Newport Beach, California on September 29, 2003, to an American mother and Australian father. They moved to Australia in 2004. Austen enjoyed sports and started playing Rugby Union for the local community and school at five years old.
