Archè (based on Swan Lake)By The Melbourne Ballet

Company

Image by Taylor-Ferne Morris

PRESENTER’S INFORMATION

Contents

COMPANY PROFILE 3ABOUT THE SHOW 3PERFORMANCE SPECIFICS 4AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT 6MARKETING7PRODUCTION DETAILS 10CONTACTS 12

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COMPANY PROFILE

Founded in 2007, the Melbourne Ballet Company (MBC) has now established its own unique style of Ballet – setting out to be both innovative and accessible, while also fully acknowledging classical technique. Led by Director Simon Hoy, the Company has already produced some fifteen original programs and with the supported of Creative Victoria, Playing Queensland, and Regional Arts Victoria, has now completed seven very successful national tours. MBC consists of ten professional dancers, all of whom have developed their skills in some of the most renowned companies in the world ( including; The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, WA Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet New York, Ballet Mainz and The Queensland Ballet). By touring to many regional areas MBC is also focussing on building new audiences for dance and making it obtainable to nearly every Australian. In this way the MBC is helping to shape the future of dance in Australia. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

SHOW SYNPOSIS

Archè is an original ballet based on the age-old classic Swan Lake, with inspiration taken from The Greek Myth - Leda and The Swan, and The Dying Swan.This program explores much of the original narrative and embraces some of the classical repertoire. Hoy, has structured this work around his unique choreographic style and has developed a score including music by P. Tchaikovsky, L. Einaudi, E.Morricone, and E. Elgar. This emotionally charged production has received extremely positive critical acclaim and is suitable for audience everywhere.  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cast

Odette/Odile - Kristy Lee Denovan Price Siegfried - Micheal Braun Von Rothbart - Alexander Baden Bryce Beno - Samuel Harett - Welk The Queen - Nadine Dimitrievitch, Peasant Girls - Artists of MBC Cygnettes - Johanna Lee, Francesca Giangrasso, Chloe Henderson, Masha Peker, Swans - Artists of MBC Suiters - Artists of MBC

Concept and Direction by Simon Hoy, Choreography by Simon Hoy and Timothy Podesta.

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Music by Peter Tchaikovsky, L. Einaudi, O. Arnalds, E.Morricone, J.Jeanrenaud and Edward Elgar.

Sponsors

Aqualife, Fitness First, Sansha Australia, Cornwall Stodart

BIOGRAPHIES

MBC Director and Resident Choreographer Simon Hoy (Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet New York, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Mainz Germany), MBC Dancers; Kristy Lee Denovan (The Australian Ballet), Alexander Baden Bryce (MBC company member since 2009), Francesca Giangrasso (Teatro Massimo Bellini, Italy), Johanna Lee (Sydney Dance Company), Masha Peker (Ukraine and American trained), Michael Braun (Queensland Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet), Chloe Henderson (West Australian Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre NYC) Samuel Harnett-Welk (Australian Ballet School, Daniel Jaber and Dancers) and Charles Riddiford (Royal Winnipeg Ballet The Queensland Ballet). 

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICS

DURATION

Act 1 – 30 minInterval – 20 minAct 2 – 30 min

SUITABLE VENUES

This show is suitable for proscenium arch venues, town halls, and black box venues.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES PER WEEK

6 performances

MINIMUM BREAK BETWEEN PERFORMANCES

120 minutes

LICENCING AGREEMENTS

copyright

APRA OBLIGATIONS

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Featured Music Licence.

TOURING PERSONNELThe touring party consists of 10 people.Name RoleKristy Lee Denovan DancerJo Lee DancerFrancesca Giangrasso DancerMasha Peker DancerChloe Henderson DancerCharlie Riddiford DancerSamuel Harnett-Welk DancerAlexander Baden Bryce DancerSimon Hoy DirectorCraig Boys Stage Manager

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Year Venue Number of performances

2015 Hawthorn Arts Centre 22016 Burrinja Cultural

Centre 1

2016 Darwin Entertainment Centre

2

2016 The Drum Theatre Dandenong

1

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT

OVERVIEW

MBC’s pre-performance talks are the perfect introduction to the season’s productions for both ballet newcomers and seasoned ballet-goers. Post-performance audience meet-and-greets offers the audience an opportunity to meet the cast and the creative team. MBC workshops give students of all ages the opportunity to learn from some of Australia's foremost artists and teachers, as well as to learn current MBC repertoire, thereby gaining greater performance appreciation this strategy has also lead to increases in audience numbers. 

DESCRIPTION / DETAILS

WORKSHOPS

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MBC will collaborate with the venue and local schools to ascertain the level of interest in dance, and will cater for each individual community accordingly. For example, many locations will have established dance schools with senior students and teachers who can benefit greatly from MBC workshops in contemporary and classical techniques, together with choreographic workshops which provide an opportunity to experience new and innovative dance techniques.

MELBOURNE BALLET LAB SHARING SERIES

Throughout 2017 the MBC plans to conduct a series of conversations with the audience. Melbourne Ballet Company wishes to know more about what patrons expect to see so during 2017 we plan to give the public the opportunity to meet with dancers and members of our creative team to engage in conversations and share thoughts on where they think dance in Australia is going in general and how Melbourne Ballet in particular can best direct its energies to present what is both accessible and artistically relevant.

COST

Performance Fee = $7500

All workshops are included in the sell-off fee. Presenters can decide if they would like to charge a fee to participate in workshops or not.

TARGET AUDIENCE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Fairy Ballet Class - 45mins Suitable to ages 4 - 5 Years old.Spaces limited to 30 per class. $20

Junior Classical and Melbourne Ballet Company Repertoire - 1hour Suitable to ages 6 – 12 Years old with previous ballet experience.Spaces limited to 30 per class. $30

Senior Classical and Melbourne Ballet Company Repertoire - 1hour.Suitable to ages 13 – 20 Years old with elementary or above experience.Spaces limited to 30 per class. $30

Senior Classical on Stage - Warm Up - 1hour Ten lucky senior classical students will have to opportunity to participate in the on-stage warm up with Melbourne Ballet Company dancers prior to the performance. These classes start 1.5 hours before the performance time.Suitable to ages 13 – 20 Years old with

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previous ballet experience. Spaces limited to 10 students. $30

MARKETING

MARKETING COPY

One Line

Archè - an original ballet based on the classic Swan Lake

Short

Archè explores much of the original narrative of the age-old classic Swan Lake and embraces some of the famous classical repertoire. MBC director Simon Hoy has structured this work around his unique choreographic style and has developed a score including music by Tchaikovsky, Einaudi, Morricone, and Elgar. This emotionally charged production has received critical acclaim and is suitable for audience everywhere. MBC consists of ten dancers, all of whom developed their skills in some of the most renowned companies in the world (The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, WA Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet New York, and The Queensland Ballet).

Extended

The Melbourne Ballet Company proudly presents, Archè!Archè is an original ballet based on the age-old classic Swan Lake, with inspiration taken from The Greek Myth - Leda and The Swan, and The Dying Swan.The program explores and embraces much of the original narrative and some of the classical repertoire. Director Simon Hoy has structured this work around his unique choreographic style and has developed a score including music by P. Tchaikovsky, L. Einaudi, E.Morricone, and E. Elgar. Archè is the Greek word that indicates the beginning, the principle from which all things arise. The ancient Greek philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, sought the Archè in the four fundamental essences of the Earth: water, earth, air, fire; focusing on how they interact with each other. Artists include; MBC Director and Resident Choreographer Simon Hoy (Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet New York, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Mainz Germany), MBC Dancers; Kristy Lee Denovan (The Australian Ballet), Alexander Baden Bryce (MBC company member since 2009), Francesca Giangrasso (Teatro Massimo Bellini, Italy), Johanna Lee (Sydney Dance Company), Masha Peker (Ukraine and American trained), Michael Braun (Queensland Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet), Chloe Henderson

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(West Australian Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre NYC) Samuel Harnett-Welk (Australian Ballet School, Daniel Jaber and Dancers) and Charles Riddiford (Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Queensland Ballet).This emotionally charged production has received extremely positive critical acclaim and is suitable for audience everywhere.

MARKETING SUMMARY

MBC will provide venues with a generic press release, company bios, hi-res production and marketing images, poster and flyer templates, production video, MBC production programs and program synopsis (free audience handout).

MEDIA QUOTES

"Equisite is the only word to describe Melbourne Ballet Company's latest production Archè!" THE MELBOURNE OBSERVER

Ballet fanatics or not, this piece would suit all audiences. A stunning performance by all.” DANCETRAIN 

“The Melbourne Ballet Company can boast not only a cast of proficient performers, but a resident choreographer in Simon Hoy whose movement signature is lyrical, generous and optimistic - somewhat reflective of the buoyant spirit of this young contemporary ballet company” THE AGE

COLLEAGUE RECOMMENDATIONS

Eli Newton – Hawthorn Arts Centre Eli.Newton@boroondara.vic.gov.au

VIDEO LINKS

Archè Promotional Footage

https://vimeo.com/132060846

MBC 2016

https://vimeo.com/153664383

IMAGES

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhizk88it3g333l/AABIkM11q2i5pS0VcZ2rmPKQa?dl=0All images by Taylor-Ferne Morris

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MARKETING MATERIALS

MBC 2016 Programhttps://www.dropbox.com/s/mdz6k1zylwciu4o/MBC%202016%20Season.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhizk88it3g333l/AABIkM11q2i5pS0VcZ2rmPKQa?dl=0Broadcast quality promotional footage is available

CONTENT WARNINGS / AUDIENCES TO AVOID

NA

SPONSOR OR OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sansha Fitness First LogoAqualife Products 2XU

TEACHER’S RESOURCES

NO

PRODUCTION DETAILS

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

MBC require a 4 hour bump-in and a 2 hour bump-out. The venue is required to provide a front projector and a white cyclorama. MBC will provide performance tarkett, small set and props. MBC requires stage access to the venues audio system by 12pm.

EXAMPLE SCHEDULE

9am – 12pm bump-in Unroll tarkett, rig projector, focus lights, plot lights12pm – 4pm Company warm-up, and space program on stage 4pm – 5pm Continue plotting if required6pm – 7pm Company warm-up7:30pm – 9pm Performance 9pm – 11pm Bump-out CREW REQUIRED FROM VENUE

Crewing Requirements

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Bump InLighting: 1 crew for 4 hoursSound: 0 crew for 0 hoursStaging: 1 crew for 4 hoursOther: NA crew for NA hours

PerformanceLighting: 1 crew for 1.5 hoursSound: 0 crew for 0 hoursStaging: 1 crew for 1.5 hoursOther: NA crew for NA hours

Bump OutLighting: 1 crew for 2 hoursSound: 0 crew for 0 hoursStaging: 1 crew for 2 hoursOther: NA crew for NA hours

Total Crew Hours: 15

STAGE

The sets and lighting design for Archè have been produced especially for touring, by Simon Hoy and MBC lighting designers, Guy Carrison and Craig Boyes. Guy and Craig have some 11 years of experience with The Australia Ballet as Stage Manager, seven years of touring throughout Regional Australia with The Australia Ballet Dancers Company as both Tour Manager and Stage Manager, and have also worked and toured with the Melbourne ballet Company for four years.

Melbourne Ballet Company to supply

A table and four chairsA white picket fenceFive rolls of its own grey tarkett – (an obligatory standard dance surface)Tarkett is light in color in order to reflect the lighting design together with some six side-lights which are added to any venue that does not have side lighting to insure the sharp lighting effects which are sought in all venues

Venue to supply

NA

LIGHTING

The scenery for Archè is projected onto a white cyclorama and all

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our associated venues need to supply both projector and cyclorama. In general we alter the standard rig of each venue as little as possible to ensure that bump in and out are as quick as possible.

Melbourne Ballet Company to supply

ImagesSide-light colour gel if venue cannot provide (let us know please)L105, L079, L201Venue to supplyStandard rig of venue (3 colour wash and gobo wash)18 x Sidelight Profiles (on booms) If sidelight is limited this can reduce to 6 x Prof in OW on H standsFront video projectorWhite cyclorama. Projector needs to be powerful enough to project a clear image the full width of the stage onto to the cyc when stage lights are on at (around) 50% Video source is our laptop which runs from FOH (Bio box ) and is operated by the lighting Op (touring). This will need to be HDMI to the projector (if otherwise (VGA) we will need to know in advance.

Venue to supply

Standard rig of venue (3 colour wash and gobo wash)6 x Sidelight Profiles (on booms or H stands) Front video projectorand a white cyclorama. Projector needs to be powerful enough to project a clear image onto to the cyc when stage lights are on at (around) 50%

SOUND

Melbourne Ballet Company to supply

Laptop

Venue to supply

3.5mm jack from the laptop to audio desk.Standard sound rig

AV

Use standard sound rig / Sound played from laptop

Melbourne Ballet Company to supply

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Laptop

Venue to supply

Standard sound rig

WARDROBE

Melbourne Ballet Company to supply33 costumes

Venue to supply

MBC require two dressing rooms

FREIGHT NOTES

All equipment can be toured in a 1 Ton Van to be driven by the Stage MangerCast will travel in two midsize cars.

CRITICAL ISSUES

The venue needs to be able to achieve a complete black out.

CONTACTS

Simon Hoy E: simon@melbourneballetcompany.com.auM 0425 492 496

Craig BoyesE: craig@bdesign.com.auM: 0412 183 484

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