West Australian Ballet company dancer Julio Blanes performing in its latest production of La Bayadère, currently on at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
La Bayadère is one of those “classic” 19th century ballets – up there with Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty for its spectacle, majesty and lashings of tragic romance.
From a love story point of view, this work is on par with every other tragic story ballet of 19th century Europe (i.e. boy meets girl, trouble ensues when their love affair is found out and someone – usually the girl – dies in the end).
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
