10 years of magic and mayhem with Storytime Ballet

Jasmin Dwyer starred in the inaugural season of David McAllister’s Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty in 2015. It was then-Executive Director, the late Libby Christie, who was inspired to make ballet for young audiences in an enchanting new format. Libby hoped the next generation would love ballet just as she had as a young child.

David McAllister adapted the three-hour-long epic The Sleeping Beauty into an interactive performance. Lasting under an hour and including an engaging narrator to guide the audience through the story, Storytime Ballet arrived.

Since 2015, four different classic ballet fairytales have been adapted in Storytime Ballet and have been performed throughout Australia to over 300,000 people, some of whom have fallen in love with ballet for the very first time.

Jasmin, who now works as the Producer of Creative Learning in The Australian Ballet’s Education and Outreach Program discusses the joy of seeing young audiences light up as they experience their first-ever ballet performance.

What can audiences expect from a Storytime Ballet performance?

Storytime Ballet is a wonderful introduction to ballet, full of magic, storytelling, beautiful costumes and music. The dancing is of the same calibre as the mainstage productions, just wrapped up into a bite-sized, kid-friendly package. Audiences are guided through the story by a narrator, so you will always know what is going on!

What are some of the best things about presenting Storytime Ballet?

My favourite part has always been seeing tiny audience members twirling in the aisles, copying the dancing onstage. I also love the audible gasps and spontaneous little outbursts, they bring such a fun, playful energy to the show. It’s not every ballet where the audience jumps in with their own comments and dialogue! Performing in Storytime Ballet makes you feel truly connected to the audience. You can hear their reactions, feel their joy, and see their excitement as it’s all happening.

What has been your favourite Storytime Ballet?

I absolutely loved performing in The Nutcracker. There’s so much variety in the characters and sections of the show. I had the chance to take on some fun, cheeky roles with lots of jumping and footwork, which has always been my favourite!

What was your first introduction to ballet?

I started dancing at a small studio in Newcastle when I was almost three. Apparently, it was my own idea even though no one else in my family had done ballet, so I’m not sure where the inspiration came from! The first ballet I ever saw was Swan Lake performed by The Australian Ballet, and it’s still my favourite.