It is never an easy job to choose a few favourites from among the productions one was fortunate to have seen in any one year, but what follows is my attempt to do just that. I have arranged my five favourites chronologically according to the month in which I saw each production. As a result of a generous birthday gift
My review of the Emerging Choreographers Project was published online by Canberra CityNews on 14 December 2025. The review below is a slightly enlarged version of the CityNews post. Here is a link to the CityNews review. Emerging Choreographers Project. Quantum Leap Australia. A Block Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, Canberra. 13 December 2025 The Emerging Choreographers Project (ECP) has been an annual Canberra-based
3 December 2025. Carriageworks, Eveleigh (Sydney) This 12th New Breed program was the last we will see. The series of New Breed, produced with a principal partnership from the Balnaves Foundation, has been a terrific initiative. Let’s hope the new arrangement, where the Balnaves Foundation will generously support an artist in residence program with Sydney Dance Company, will be as
Liz Lea , ever engaged in new projects, has been commissioned by the Sydney-based AMPA (Academy of Music and Performing Arts) to create a new work for the dance students of the Academy for their upcoming end of year show, Euphoria. Lea’s work is called Promenade and will premiere on 5 December 2025. Watch below for an insight into the
26 November 2025 (matinee). Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House The matinee of 26 November 2025 was not an outstanding presentation of David McAllister’s Sleeping Beauty. Not all of the main characters were danced with the outstanding technique we have come to expect from the Australian Ballet, nor was there the strong acting input a narrative ballet like Beauty needs.
19 and 20 November, Te Whaea, Wellingtonreviewed by Jennifer Shennan The NZSD end of year performance season has reverted to separate classical and contemporary programs alternating across a ten-day period. The first night, classical program, opened with a suite of dances from La Sylphide, staged with care by Nadine Tyson (a former graduate of the School, dancer with RNZB, and
21 November, 2025. Civic Theatre, Aucklandreviewed by Jennifer Shennan The program opens with the premiere of If There Ever Was a Time, choreographed by Neil Ieremia, artistic director of Black Grace, the company he founded in 1995, so the company is 30 years old and counting. Then follows Esplanade, choreographed by Paul Taylor for his New York dance company in
12 November 2025 (matinee). Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House The Australian Ballet is looking spectacular, if the dancing in Prism is anything to go by—Prism is a triple bill, with works from Jerome Robbins (Glass Pieces), Stephanie Lake (Seven Days), and William Forsythe (Blake Works V. The Barre Project). At the performance I saw the standard of dancing was
11 November 2025. Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra Dance in Canberra in the twelve months from October 2024 and September 2025 was recognised with three awards by the Canberra Critics’ Circle. Awardees were Alison Plevey and Sara Black, Ausdance ACT, and Akira Byrne from QL2 Dance. The following citations give details: For the exceptional production of a solo dance work, Essor (translation: Thank
30 October 2025. St. James Theatre, Wellingtonwith New Zealand Symphony Orchestrareviewed by Jennifer Shennan Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Artistic Director, Ty King-Wall, has created a new production of The Nutcracker, a fun-filled frolicking entertainment set among images of New Zealand landscape, flora and fauna, childhood summer holidays in the bach, games on the beach, with sweets and treats for a