Best of 2025

John Neumeier brought his epic biographical ballet of the famed Vaslav Nijinsky back to Australia. Principal Artist Callum Linnane, who was first cast in the role nine years ago by Neumeier, took on the role of the ‘God of Dance’ once more with fierce commitment.

After thrilling Sydney audiences in 2024, Melbourne and Canberra were just as delighted to witness Johan Inger’s gritty retelling of Prosper Mérimée’s Carmen.

"I try to look for the imperfection or the cracks in between the perfection and the imperfection, and there is where we see human beings, and that is what interests me the most … I don’t want to see a dancer dance it; I want to see a person dance it."
- Choreographer Johan Inger 

Professional company artists joined forces with The Australian Ballet final-year students to tour seven cities across Australia with a program of works by George Balanchine, Lucy Guerin and Paul Knobloch (after Petipa).

"I love experiencing the unique charm of each place and connecting with different audiences. It’s especially rewarding to bring ballet to regional and remote communities that might not otherwise have access to such performances."
  - Choreographer and On Tour Repetiteur Paul Knobloch 

In a rare triple bill, the company went beyond ballet’s boundaries to take on the physical challenges of Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Stephanie Lake’s Seven Days and William Forsythe’s Blake Works V (The Barre Project), blurring the lines between classical ballet and contemporary dance.

After 15 years away, The Australian Ballet toured to Japan to perform Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote. In an extra special surprise, ballet icon Sylvie Guillem joined us in the studio and in Tokyo coaching the dancers and delighting international audiences.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet based on Abbé Prévost’s Manon Lescaut devastated audiences in Melbourne and Sydney as the tragic heroine fell victim to her inevitable fate.

"Manon is a ballet that gives dancers the opportunity to connect to the humanity of the characters they portray. By steering away from the customary fairytale narrative so often seen in ballet, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s magnificent choreography gives the story the space it needs to be fully understood and, more importantly, felt."
- Artistic Director David Hallberg

The festival of dance was a highlight of the 2025 season as companies from across Australia and New Zealand arrived in Melbourne to perform a program of works that encompassed everything from classical ballet to the most innovative and evocative contemporary productions.

We were delighted to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty with not only a return season of the beloved ballet but also a return of the acclaimed former artistic director himself, who coached the dancers in the lead-up to opening night.

The family-friendly ballet dreamt up by Libby Christie and David McAllister in 2015 celebrated 10 years of introducing young audiences to the magic of ballet in over 600 performances.

The incredible team behind our Education and Outreach programs visited eight states and territories across Australia in over 300 events that reached more than 26,000 people.

Through our partnership with La Trobe University, The Australian Ballet continues to lead the way in research that helps keep dancers healthy and performing at their best. From injury prevention and strength training to managing the physical demands of major productions, this work turns real insights from our dancers into practical knowledge shared across Australia and beyond. In the past year, our research has reached health professionals across four states, been shared through six public webinars, and even informed elite sports teams, including AFL's Geelong Cats and NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, extending the impact of ballet far beyond the stage.