1966
The Australian Ballet opens Season 1966 with a free outdoor event as part of Melbourne’s Moomba Festival. Marilyn Jones and Garth Welch dance in Act 2 of Peggy van Praagh’s Swan Lake alongside a mixed bill to the delight of audiences.
60 years of priceless art
Ballet Under The Stars
Amanda McGuigan, From Silence (House), Ballet Under The Stars 2016
Photo Kate Longley
Our favourite free outdoor event returns in 2026 with a stunning gala in Horsham. Behind Ballet delves into the archives to rediscover some of our most treasured star-studded performances.
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Published on
18 Feb 2026
1974
The company performs Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella to an adoring crowd at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The performance is made all the more special with beloved principal artist Lucette Aldous making her triumphant return to the stage in the title role.
1994
Melbourne’s predictably unpredictable weather makes it too dangerous to perform at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. In what was scheduled to be a programme of five different works, only two were able to be performed safely for the 7000 ballet fans who braved the blistering cold and furious wind.
2000
Over 12,000 people head to Como Park in Melbourne’s suburb of South Yarra for the performance, which Councillor Claude Ullin hailed as a major success.
“To see Australia’s national ballet company performing at a free concert was a wonderful privilege for residents.’’
Reviews of the event that included William Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated, Mikhail Fokine’s The Dying Swan, Walter Bourke’s Super Boy and Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero (For Thee, I Die) were just as positive.
“As evenings like this go, this is about as good as it gets.” — Vicki Fairfax, The Age, March 14, 2000
Olivia Bell, Giselle (Gielgud) 2001
Photo Branco Gaica
2001
The Australian Ballet ventures out from Melbourne’s Kings Domain to the River Stage in Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens. Performing Maina Gielgud’s Giselle, it’s a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the incredible ballet stars Lisa Bolte as Giselle, Matthew Trent as Count Albrecht and Olivia Bell as Queen of the Wilis!
Artists of The Australian Ballet warm up with Class on Stage at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, 2016
Photo Kate Longley
2016-2018
Western Sydney secures the coveted annual event for three years in a row. Held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, the newly renamed Ballet Under The Stars is a highlight on the arts calendar.
“As Australia’s national ballet company, we are committed to reaching audiences all around Australia and giving them the opportunity to experience the transformative power of ballet.” — Former Executive Director, Libby Christie
Principal Artist Sharni Spencer with artists of The Australian Ballet, Don Quixote (Nureyev) Ballet Under The Stars 2023
Photo Kate Longley
2023
After too many years away, The Australian Ballet returns to celebrate our 60th season at The Sydney Myer Music Bowl with a gala event that reflects our heritage and points towards our exciting future.
Jacqueline Clark with artists of The Australian Ballet, La Bayadere, The Kingdom of the Shades (Petipa) 2021
Photo Lynette Wills
2026
The company is set to perform classic and contemporary pieces against the picturesque background of Horsham, located in western Victoria’s Wimmera region.
Did you have a favourite Ballet Under The Stars Performance? Let us know!