2010 Functions
FAB Melbourne Trip
22 - 25 June 2010
24 people took advantage of The Friends' 2010 Melbourne Trip, to see one or both of two ballets: the last night of Coppelia on Tuesday 22 June and the Opening night and Premiere of Peggy! on Friday 25 June.
Both were wonderful performances by The Australian Ballet, and the Australian Ballet School, which featured in the first act of Peggy!
During the week friends had the opportunity to watch a class and attend a wardrobe tour, the latter being brief due to the number of ballets in production, but nonetheless fascinating.
We all enjoyed being in the building surrounded by all the ballet activity.
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MORRIS: A Life with Bells On
Movie Preview - Sunday 16 May 2010
Trak Cinema
Our movie preview was a sold out event.
Guests mingled in the foyer of the Trak Cinema, enjoying Pertaringa Wines (our wonderful sponsor), and delicious sandwiches before moving into the cinema.
Morris: A Life with Bells on, was a delightful and quirky movie, with many hilarious moments.
Whether or not you knew anything about Morris Dancing, it didn't matter. We had an informative and entertaining glimpse into that particular genre, in true "mockumentry" style, where the actors were probably having as much fun as the audience.
A happy and enjoyable event.
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Morning Tea with Robin Haig
9 April 2010
Robin Haig gave a delightful presentation of her very varied and interesting ballet career.
She had the audience in the palm of her hand enthralled with her stories, cleverly using props to demonstrate different eras of her ballet days, and even executing classic ballet positions to emphasize her story.
She danced with Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Garth Welch, Marilyn Jones and in companies such as Walter Gore's Ballet and the Western Theatre Ballet (later known as The Scottish Ballet).
She also toured Russia, Poland, Romania and England with The Australian Ballet.
Her memories of colleague Margot Fonteyn over many years were the highlight of the morning. We all loved hearing about her overseas tour, knicknamed 'The Fonteyn Follies'. Robin also touched on Margot's life after ballet.
Robin's ensitivity, wit, honesty and pathos touched us all and there was hardly a dry eye in the room, when she closed by saying:
"Margot's elusive spirit is with me and will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life".
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L - R Committee: Annette Gillen, Judy Connor, Denise Le Messurier, Guest Speaker Robin Haig, Catherine Ellice-Flint and Barbara Marrett.
Guest Speaker Robin Haig with Alan Brissenden
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President’s Report
17 March 2010
It is with pleasure that I present to you for your approval the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Friends of the Australian Ballet (S.A.) Inc.
Our year started and ended with junior programme events. On 29 March 2009 and 21 February 2010 the juniors were able to attend classes with Tzu Chao Chou, soloist with The Australian Ballet. The classes were divided into three age groups. He is a splendid teacher and well liked by those attending. We are grateful to the Education Department of The Australian Ballet for supporting these events and AC Arts in Light Square for making their facilities available. The junior programme continues to attract students aged from 8-16. They will, of course, be the future audiences for the ballet. The juniors programme also generates awareness of The Australian Ballet amongst their families.
20 July was our annual Bridge Day. This event attracted 208 this year - a record for our annual event. It has always been successful and does not only encompass the membership but the wider ballet community. This is a great opportunity for us to reach potential ballet audiences in Adelaide and we do appreciate their continued support.
In early July a small group of members travelled to Melbourne to see Paris Match. We thank the Private Giving department who are always generous with their time and arranging tickets, tours of the Centre and a Class on Stage.
Our main fund raiser for the year was the Premier of the film, Mao’s Last Dancer. This was an exciting two tiered event - cocktails and the film for some and cocktails, film and dinner with the stars for others. This was a most enjoyable and successful event for our members and friends and Catherine Ellice-Flint as chair of the organising committee for this event has to be congratulated on its success. It was Li’s wish that the profits from all the Premiers in Australia be shared by The Australian Ballet and the Bionic Ear Institute. As a result we gave $30,586 to The Australian Ballet to be dispersed as Li wished. On 1 October we organised a screening for the general public. We had signed copies of Mao’s Last Dancer and The Peasant Prince books for door prizes for those attending.
The Artistic Director of the 2010 Adelaide Festival, Paul Grabowsky, was our guest speaker on 22 November. We have this event biennially and members enjoy learning about the dance content and general programme for the Festival.
In August we gave $6,000 to the Australian Ballet for Out There, The Australian Ballet in schools project in 2009. Northfield Primary was the recipient of this pilot programme. The committee were invited to be present at the demonstration of the week’s workshops and were most impressed with the results. As a result of the programme’s success, this programme will now be included in The Australian Ballet Education Unit’s annual schedule of activities.
Bernie Lewis Home Loans has generously allowed us to hold our meetings at their premises for most of the year and I would like to acknowledge their continuing generosity again this year.
I thank our Patron, Mrs James Ramsay AO for her continuing support of our committee. I would particularly like to thank Judy Connor, honorary secretary and Di Miller, honorary treasurer for their untiring support to me. Di Joined the committee last year and I congratulate her on how readily she has moved into the role. I thank Wendy Wheeler in the role as minute secretary for her support and help to me over the past year. Mr John Pike has again been our honorary auditor and I would like to thank him for continuing his valuable contribution. Felicity Gunner OAM, an ex officio committee member as the South Australian member of the Board of The Australian Ballet, continued to provide support to the committee and to me personally and willingly assisted us in liaising with Melbourne. Her term with the Board has just ended and we say farewell and a special “thank you” to her.
We have welcomed John Ellice-Flint as the new South Australian Board representative and ex officio committee member. The committee looks forward to working with him. The vice-president Rebecca Mason resigned late last year and I thank her for her contribution to the committee, most particularly as the junior programme co-ordinator. To committee members, Mesdames Brown, Dawe, Ellice-Flint, Gillen, Hayward, Henry, Irving, Middleton, Perry, Sangster, Trengove, Vanden and Wheeler, my sincere thanks for your contribution and support over the past year. Committee members Mesdames Henry and Trengove have recently resigned and we acknowledge their contribution over their time on the committee. Veronica Aldridge has applied for a year’s leave of absence.
Many of the husbands willingly help with our functions and I thank those who have been ‘barmen’ at our functions. Honourable mention to Rob Sangster who makes sure the drinks table is functioning. A very large thank you to my husband Robin, for his “home secretary” duties and immense support to me and the committee quietly behind the scenes. As I finish my time as President I say a very big “thank you” to all those in The Australian Ballet who are always there to support our ideas and functions. A special thanks to Kenneth Watkins and Donna Brearley. I have made so many friends in my time as a committee member and as President and I acknowledge the members’ friendship and support during the past four years.
I do remind members that our web page is there for you to access. We hope you will all visit the site for the Friends’ news, the links to The Australian Ballet web site and to other dance related contacts.
www.friendsoftheaustralianballetsa.com.au
Diary Dates for 2010:
11 April we shall be having a morning tea with Robin Haig. This will be an informal presentation with anecdotes of back
