Feature image: Dancers Callum Linnane, Sharni Spencer, Photo Rainee Lantry. Choreography George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
George Balanchine’s Jewels is a three-part ballet celebrating his vision of three precious gems: Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds. First presented in 1967 at the New York City Ballet, the iconic masterpiece is a dazzling exploration of movement and music. Now, The Australian Ballet is bringing the acclaimed production to Adelaide for the first time, enchanting audiences at the Festival Theatre from July 12th to 18th.
Jewels unfolds across three acts, each set to music by a different composer: Fauré for Emeralds, Stravinsky for Rubies, and Tchaikovsky for Diamonds. Balanchine’s choreography captures the essence of each gem through unique styles and atmospheres, while exploring the influence of Paris, New York, and Saint Petersburg; cities that greatly shaped Balanchine’s artistic journey.
Performing Jewels presents both a challenge and an artistic journey for The Australian Ballet dancers. Principal Artist Sharni Spencer highlights the great responsibility of bringing it to life:
“George Balanchine was an incredibly influential choreographer; his works are very highly regarded and still celebrated around the world today,” Sharni Spencer says.
“It is a great privilege to have the permission to perform Jewels with The Australian Ballet. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be dancing both Emeralds and Diamonds Principal this season.
“Jewels is one of his iconic masterpieces, we can’t wait to bring it to life onstage in Adelaide.”
Spencer explains that each act of Jewels presents a variety of technical challenges for the whole company, with some of the dancers performing in two or more acts each evening, demanding exceptional endurance and versatility.
Emeralds requires a series of complex balances and delicate partnering to maintain a romantic atmosphere throughout. Rubies demands speed, precision, and off-center balances, while Diamonds tests endurance with intricate footwork and demanding pas de deux sequences.
“There are many challenges, but Jewels is a rewarding ballet to perform and breathtaking to watch,” Spencer says.
To maintain the authenticity and integrity of Balanchine’s work, Spencer explains The Australian ballet had Balanchine repetiteur Sandra Jennings come out to stage Jewels for the company.
“Balanchine repetiteurs have a direct connection to Balanchine’s work and the Balanchine Trust, they know the ballet inside out, have often performed many of the roles and are sure to see that the work is restaged true to Balanchine’s artistic vision,” Spencer says.
“Sandy taught us the choreography, specific techniques, nuances and musicality. She would often share stories with us, sometimes showing us videos of the original casts.”
For The Australian Ballet, presenting Jewels not only demonstrates the company’s exceptional talent, but also honours Balanchine’s visionary choreography. As The Australian Ballet prepares to stage this iconic masterpiece, Principal Artist Sharni Spencer and her fellow dancers embody the dedication and artistry that have defined Balanchine’s ballets for generations, promising an unforgettable experience for Adelaide audiences.
Jewels The Australian Ballet
When: 12th-18th July 2024
Where: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
For tickets and more information, click here.
More News
