There is something purely magical about going to the ballet – from the ding of the bell in the theatre announcing the beginning of the show, to the plush velvet seats. Seeing swathes of incredible ballet dancers take the stage brings such a sense of joy.
The Australian Ballet’s touring program allows the company to engage with community and open its classes up to the public. Hales shares a story of a couple who had travelled from Albury to attend to an open class in Shepparton after missing out on the tickets to the performance in their hometown. He explains that as one member of the couple ‘had significant health conditions that were deteriorating … the fact that the Ballet company was touring to locations that were accessible to them meant a great deal’. After the two-hour journey, the couple were able to meet dancers from the class, making the moment all the more special.
