NYX
Goddess of the Night
12 October - 30 November Directed By Andrew Killian $20.00
Artistic Director Andrew Killian Choreographer Lana Jones Set Designer Ako Kondo Lighting Designer Robyn Hendricks Creating a new version of this most iconic of classical ballets was a huge and exciting challenge. David McAllister wanted a traditional production to stand alongside Graeme Murphy’s magnificent reinvention of this ballet from a decade ago. There was therefore no question that the choreography for Act II should be the traditional version, but apart from this act and the Black Swan Pas de deux, all the choreography for the other three acts is my own.
Costume Designer Amber Scott Associate Costume Designer Leanne Stojmenov
Lana Jones and I collaborated on every aspect of this production over many months, and more than anything else we have been guided by Tchaikovsky’s immortal score. Like so much of his music, it is steeped in a deeply Romantic aesthetic and it is this fundamental aspect that has driven our vision of the ballet.
Conducter Brett Chynoweth
Finally, I want to thank the beautiful dancers of The Australian Ballet. I hope the ballet is as rewarding for them to dance as they have made it to create.
Photographer Taylah Hunter
Andrew Killian 2016
Graphic Designer Taylah Hunter
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SYNOPSIS Act 1
A medieval Rhineland village where villagers assemble to dance and celebrate the wine harvest. Hilarion, a besotted gamekeeper, hopes to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Giselle. Duke Albrecht too has become enamoured with the peasant girl, Giselle, and in order to pursue her, has disguised himself as a peasant named Loys and rented a cottage opposite her house. His squire, Wilfrid, is wary of Albrecht’s plans as he is already betrothed. While Albrecht is entertaining Giselle, they are admonished by Hilarion, who is angered by his love rival. He tries to separate them but is sent away by Albrecht. The villagers arrive and encourage Giselle to join in the celebration. They are soon interrupted by the arrival of Giselle’s mother, Berthe, who chastises Giselle for dancing as it threatens her weak health. Berthe reminds Giselle of the tale of the Wilis – the spectres of virgin brides who never reached their wedding day and now rise from their graves to kill any men who wander by. Hunting fanfares are heard in the distance. Albrecht retreats lest his identity should be discovered by the approaching Prince and his daughter Bathilde, whom Albrecht is to marry. Meanwhile Hilarion sneaks into Albrecht’s cottage to find clues of his true identity and discovers that Loys is not a peasant but a nobleman.
Image Credit: Taylah Hunter Mirror on Windowsil 2016 Photograph Melbourne
The harvest festival continues and Albrecht returns to join in the celebration. Hilarion charges in, separating Giselle and Albrecht and reveals Albrecht’s true identity – he is not Loys but the Duke in disguise. Giselle refuses to believe this. To prove his point Hilarion blows a horn to summon the hunt party. They appear and Bathilde wonders at Albrecht’s strange appearance. Albrecht passes it off as a joke and takes Bathilde’s hand. In disbelief Giselle breaks the two apart and declares her love for Albrecht.
apart and declares her love for Albrecht. Bathilde announces that she is betrothed to Albrecht. Giselle falls into a state of despair. Her emotional condition descends until a fit of madness causes her weak heart to stop beating and she dies.
Act 2
A dank and shrouded forest. This is where the Wilis gather. Any man caught here between midnight and dawn will be drawn under their spell and forced to dance until they die. Hilarion is lost in thought by Giselle’s grave. Suddenly, realising it is midnight, he rushes away hoping not to be ensnared by the Wilis. The Queen of the Wilis, Myrtha, appears. She summons her ghostly consorts up into a dance. Myrtha announces the arrival of a new Wili. Giselle rises from her grave and is inaugurated. A sound is heard nearby. The Wilis hide. The grief- and guilt-ridden Albrecht appears and kneels down at Giselle’s grave. Alone Albrecht sees the spectre of Giselle and he follows the vision. He tries to embrace her but his arms pass through her. As Giselle vanishes, Albrecht searches for her in the woods. Hilarion, ensnared by the power of the Wilis, dances until exhausted and is thrown into the river where he drowns. Albrecht is now in Myrtha’s thrall. Giselle appears suddenly and sends Albrecht to her graveside. The marble cross of her headstone dispels even the malign will of the Wilis and causes Myrtha’s sceptre to break in her hand. Myrtha uses Giselle to lure Albrecht away from her grave by compelling her to dance. Albrecht is unable to resist the allure and beauty of Giselle’s dance and is tempted away from the cross. By dancing with Albrecht, Giselle attempts to prolong his ability to survive. They dance together as an expression of their love. He tries to separate them but is sent away. Loys is not a peasant but a nobleman.
MEET THE CAST NYX Amber Scott
Amber Scott joined The Australian Ballet School at age eleven. After graduating as dux, she 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. Amber was promoted to principal artist in 2011 after performing the Second Movement from Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto.
Chaos Adam Bull
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 many leading roles. After just six months as a senior artist, Adam was promoted to principal artist in June 2008, capping off a string of critically acclaimed lead performances.
Erebus Brett Simon
Brett Simon was born in Adelaide and began his dance training with Sheila Laing. He completed his training at The Australian Ballet School in 2003 and joined WA Ballet upon graduating. In 2005 Brett was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his performance of Valmont in Simon Dow’s Dangerous Liaisons. In 2006 he appeared as a guest artist with Hong Kong Ballet and returned there full-time as senior soloist in 2007. While there, Brett danced works by Rudi van Dantzig and Ronald Hynd.
Aether Robyn Hendricks
South African-born Robyn Hendricks began ballet classes aged eight after her grandfather observed her dancing on her toes all the time. Growing up in an academic family, Robyn was the first family member to pursue a creative passion. Training in the Cecchetti Syllabus, Robyn travelled to Melbourne in 2001 to participate in the annual Cecchetti International Competition. During the competition, she was approached by The Australian Ballet School and was asked to audition formally for entrance into the prestigious national school.
Secondary Dancers Dimity Azoury Benedicte Bemet Ben Davis Natasha Kusen Jarryd Madden Chris Rodgers
Brett Simon Jacob Sofer Dana Stephensen Vivienne Wong Andrew Wright Harley King
Imogen Chapman Jacqueline Clark Nicola Curry Ingrid Gow Francois Lavignac Brooke Lockett
Luke Merchant Karl Pilkington Heidi Martin Cristiano Martino Amanda McGuigan Marcus Morelli
Image Credit: Taylah Hunter NYX on White 2016 Photograph Melbourne
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