WEST AUSTRALIAN BALLET'S
SUPPORT OF LIVE MUSIC

The suggestion that West Australian Ballet does not support live music is simply wrong.

West Australian Ballet is one of the largest employers of performing artists in Western Australia, second only to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO). Live music is central to what we do, and we have worked closely with WASO for decades - a strong partnership that continues today. In addition, we also work with West Australian Philharmonic Orchestra (WAPO) to present our longest season of the year at Christmas time. We are not funded for an orchestra for this season and choose to fund this engagement with WAPO from our own operating expenses because we are committed to supporting live music wherever possible.

We have repeatedly explained — publicly and directly to representatives of MEAA — that our upcoming Dracula tour to Adelaide is a short, four-day trial season to test whether interstate touring is viable for the company. Our ambition is not a one-off visit. Our goal is to return regularly and, when we do, to work with live musicians.

This initial tour is proceeding without government touring funding. At this stage, the tour cannot sustain the cost of engaging an orchestra. We support MEAA in action that will result in more funding flowing to orchestras and touring. We have offered on multiple occasions, and will continue to offer, to work collaboratively with them to advocate for further funding for all arts sectors that they represent, however they have not pursued this option.

Touring with recorded music, both nationally and internationally, is a well-established practice for many arts companies. For the Adelaide performances of Dracula, we will use an exceptionally high-quality recording of the award-winning arrangement of Wojciech Kilar’s score, performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and conducted by West Australian Ballet Principal Conductor Jessica Gethin. The recording was made specifically for this production, with all musicians remunerated at the time, and with ongoing royalties paid in accordance with our agreement with WASO. Our Perth season of Dracula will be presented with the musicians of West Australian Symphony playing live.

This marks West Australian Ballet’s first return to Adelaide in more than a decade, and we hope this season will be the first step toward more regular touring opportunities. We are committed to providing even more opportunities for dancers, musicians, creatives and production teams at a time when all livelihoods in the arts are under threat.

Our priority right now is ensuring this tour can go ahead — so that Adelaide audiences do not miss the opportunity to experience this acclaimed production.