David Hallberg and The Australian Ballet

Amanda Jennings asks The Australian Ballet’s artistic director about his new life off-stage and asks about his company’s forthcoming London season.
Photographs of The Australian Ballet in George Balanchine’s Jewels by
Rainee Lantry
With thanks to
The Australian Ballet
Edited by
Emma Kauldhar
©2023

[@treesny]

Thoughtful, honest and articulate. All best wishes to this beautiful spirit and The Australian Ballet for a mutually nourishing artistic marriage!

[@elizzy8754]

Thank you for this excellent interview. The questions drew out the deep intelligence and thoughtfulness of David Hallberg. I think he is serving the company well.

[@msbeejones]

his voice is like music to me for some reason, i can just listen and listen and listen ...

[@Jules-ix9ih]

I really enjoyed this interview; David's worldwide experience is a great asset for the Australian Ballet as well as his human approach to the unique qualities of our best dancers. In his own career, he was a superb dancer, and we are very appreciative that he is here with us.

[@yasmingbrock9530]

Only he doesn't hire anyone with visibly dark skin. He also hasn't hired a single BIPoC American classical dancer, guest artist, repetiteur or choreographer of note, just a truckload of his white mates. Recently The New York Times published a feature article highlighting the lack of black dancers in ballet. I added 5 entries in the comments section explaining that a white American import to Australia (Mr David Hallberg) also seems unable to employ anyone with visibly dark skin. Turns out The NYT editing team were keen to learn about Dave's colourist gate-keeping so they published all 5 of my comments. David Hallberg & The Australian Ballet currently have me blocked on Instagram as they find me telling the truth, highly problematic!

[@Jules-ix9ih]

@@yasmingbrock9530
You may have been blocked because your comments are thought to be offensive as you seem to be making accusations of racism. In Australia, we have the Bangarra Dance company of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professional dancers who are marvellous. Maybe they aren't interested in the unnatural aspects of classical ballet? Another thing, as an Australian, I have 8 different nationalities in my DNA including ATSI DNA, but my skin is white and you'd never know it.

[@yasmingbrock9530]

@@Jules-ix9ih I'm making accusations of systemic racism and colourism because they happen to be true. David Hallberg is a white American import to this country (Australia - of which I also happen to be a citizen), who knows any number of e.g. African American ballet dancers/choreographers/repetiteurs of world repute and yet he doesn't seem interested in hiring a single one of them. That's what I'd call text book gate-keeping. The New York Times editing team tends to agree with me; parochial Australians, not so much. W
When a young African American soloist did bother to audition for this company Dave rejected him. Said dancer now works for none other than The Paris Opera Ballet!!!
🎯😝🏆
Of course it would be typical for an Australian to pull out The Bangarra Dance Theatre card!!! Yes we have a world class indigenous contemporary dance company. But have you ever seen an Aboriginal or indeed any other PoC in The Australian Ballet with DARK SKIN??? No you haven't. And that dear citizen is called COLOURISM!
In addition last time I looked Australia was part of a global village not a backwater of The Antipodes although it often behaves that way!

[@davidlogan4329]

David Halberg is such a brilliant breath of fresh air revitalising a company that was becoming tedious in its lack of versatility of work and quality. It's truly an exciting time for the Australian Ballet. Please more Brisbane performances. Too long the city has been neglected even though it is the third largest city in Australia.