The Australian Ballet

Nijinsky

A story of power, talent, and the depths of human emotion

View performance times
  • Melbourne / Naarm

    21 February – 1 March 2025

  • Sydney / Warrang

    4 – 22 April 2025

  • Duration

    2 hours and 30 minutes / 1 Interval

An image of Principal Artist Callum Linnane with his arms parallel and stretched in front of his body. He is making intense eye-contact with the camera.

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★★★★½
"Neumeier’s endlessly absorbing dance-drama worships the god of dance."
- Limelight

★★★★½
"Passion meets frailty in triumphant performance."
- Sydney Morning Herald

An image of Principal Artist Callum Linnane wearing black pants and make a circle shape with his arms. The image is in colour but features dramatic shadows over his face.

Principal Artist Callum Linnane
Photo Simon Eeles

An image of Soloist Jake Mangakahia dressed as a mythical fawn, wityh a garland of flowers hung around his neck. He is crouching low to the ground but looking up and away from the camera.

Jake Mangakahia
Photo Simon Eeles

Vaslav Nijinsky was at the height of his career during the early 20th century. His unparalleled performances brought him adoring fans while his evocative and sensual choreography caused riots in theatres in Paris.

In a tragic turn of events, Nijinsky succumbed to the effects of schizophrenia, spending the remainder of his life in and out of treatment centres. He gave his last public performance in 1919 in a Swiss hotel in a dance that reflected the gamut of emotions.

Acclaimed narrative ballet choreographer John Neumeier examines Nijinsky’s final performance, charting the rise and fall of a creative genius in vivid detail. He recalls his troubled family, his ill-fated romances and the transcendent performances that brought him fame.

In a production that defies categorisation, Nijinsky offers an opportunity for The Australian Ballet’s male artists to take on the dancer’s distinctive style. Set within the glamour of early 20th century Paris, rich sets and costumes create a world-within-a-world, brimming with visionary opulence.

A spectacular piece of theatre, Nijinsky is a tribute to the visionary dancer and choreographer who changed the ballet world forever.

David Hallberg's insight

“John Neumeier has successfully interwoven so many facets of Vaslav Nijinsky’s personal and professional trajectory into this work. John’s masterful storytelling incorporates characters from Nijinsky’s most iconic roles to create a layered narrative of the artist’s troubled life.

You can feel the very essence of Nijinsky through John’s work. The temperamental, the volatile and the engaging energy of a brilliant but unpredictable artist. John’s musical choices show the pivotal role music plays in bringing characters to life in dance and bridges the gap between sight and sound in this uniquely collaborative piece.”

Nijinsky contains mature themes including sexual content and depictions of self-harm that some audiences may find confronting.


Please be aware that this production of Nijinsky contains Light Haze and one strobe flash (camera effect)

An image of Principal Artist Dimity Azoury standing in an elegant pose, with a piece of white and orange fabric draped over her arms. She is wearing pearl earrings and has her hair in a neat bun.

Principal Artist Dimity Azoury
Photo Simon Eeles

An image of Drew Hedditch dressed in a white back and red jester costume, with printed tights and a black mask over his eyes. He is balancing on the ball of one foot and is looking away from the camera.

Drew Hedditch
Photo Simon Eeles

965545 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Robyn Hendricks Callum Linnane Credit Kate Longley

Principal Artists Robyn Hendricks and Callum Linnane, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Kate Longley

966994 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Callum Linnane Credit Kate Longley

Principal Artist Callum Linnane, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Kate Longley

968004 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Dimity Azoury Marcus Morelli Kevin Jackson Credit Jeff Busby

Principal Artists Dimity Azoury, Marcus Morelli, Kevin Jackson, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Jeff Busby

968136 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Kevin Jackson Credit Jeff Busby

Kevin Jackson, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Jeff Busby

968187 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Kevin Jackson Credit Jeff Busby

Kevin Jackson and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Jeff Busby

970712 TAB Nijinsky Neumeier Amber Scott Kevin Jackson Credit Kate Longley

Amber Scott and Kevin Jackson, Nijinsky (Neumeier) 2016
Photo Kate Longley

Production credits

A ballet by John Neumeier
Choreography, set, costumes and lighting concept John Neumeier
Music Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Dmitri Shostakovich

Music

Melbourne
With Orchestra Victoria

Sydney
With Opera Australia Orchestra

We thank our production partners

Season 2025

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An image of Principal Artist Callum Linnane with his arms parallel and stretched in front of his body. He is making intense eye-contact with the camera.

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