One day. Five ballet companies. Live and online.
World Ballet Day, the marathon live-stream featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the top ballet companies on the planet, returns on Tuesday 4 October 2016.
In my world, every day is ballet day! I fill as many of my waking hours as possible with dance writing, reviewing, studying and teaching – all while endeavouring to ensure I never miss any opportunity to participate in a ballet class myself. This means that I eat, breathe and sleep dance most days. Unsurprisingly, I have nothing but enthusiasm for World Ballet Day. The annual event brings balletomanes across the globe together, for one special day, to share in the sheer joy of watching professional ballet dancers do their thing.
The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada and San Francisco Ballet are the five leading companies opening up their studios to audiences during the twenty hours of non-stop broadcasting. Viewers will have the chance to observe each company’s morning ballet class; acquire insight into choreographic and rehearsal processes; hear from influential and inspiring industry insiders and discover more about ballet from incredibly talented individuals who have dedicated their lives to the art form.
All five companies have also invited an assortment of nearby regional dance organisations to be part of the day through pre-recorded footage and by live-streaming on their own Facebook pages.
The guest companies are:
Hong Kong Ballet, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet
Ballets de Monte Carlo, Dutch National Ballet, Estonian National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, La Scala Ballet Company, Nederlands Dans Theater, Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Polish National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet, Wiener Staatsballett
Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet
Boston Ballet, Ballet Nacional Sodre, Miami Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet
World Ballet Day 2016 marks the third consecutive year that The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada and San Francisco Ballet have united to showcase the everyday world of ballet on the global stage. World Ballet Day 2015 saw an unprecedented 349,000 views on the day itself and has subsequently reached an audience of over two million.
Working with Facebook Live, World Ballet Day 2016 hopes to reach an even wider audience than ever before. Viewers are also being urged to join the fun by getting involved on Instagram, Twitter and other social media channels. Celebrate the beauty, power and elegance of ballet by using the hashtag #WorldBalletDay. Add #mydanceshoes to submit pictures and videos of your own dancing shoes.
Visit the World Ballet Day website for details.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher.
