West Australian Ballet is back in the Pilbara as part of a three-year partnership with the City of Karratha which sees top dancing talent sharing their skills and knowledge with local young people.
Professional West Australian Ballet teaching artists Alexandra Kay and Jo Omodei are leading the popular Youth Dance Collective and a series of workshops at schools and libraries over a four-week period ending March 24.
The Youth Dance Collective will see emerging young dancers prepare a new show that will be performed before a live audience as the curtain raiser for A Gala Evening with West Australian Ballet, at the Red Earth Arts Precinct on Friday, March 24, starting at 7:30 PM.
In addition to the Youth Dance Collective, the teachers will lead masterclasses at local dance schools, Karratha Ballet Academy and Lea Cullen Performing Arts.
City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said it was exciting to have the West Australian Ballet returning to Karratha.
“Having Jo and Alexandra spend four weeks in our City, teaching our emerging dancers will provide a great opportunity to develop and nurture local talent,” Cr Long said.
“This partnership gives dancers young and old the chance to learn from some of the best performers our state has to offer.
“There will also be two performances from the WA Ballet that are sure to excite locals from A Gala Evening with West Australian Ballet to a children’s show Peter and the Wolf.”
Teaching artists Alexandra Kay and Jo Omodei bring vast experience to the region, having trained with leading institutes and performed around the world with renowned companies, in France, Taiwan, and China, to list a few.
“Having worked in Karratha before, I know firsthand the talent, drive and enthusiasm of the young people there,” said Ms Kay, who trained at the Perth School of Ballet before undertaking further studies at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
The West Australian Ballet ran a similar programme last year with support from the City of Karratha, sharing techniques and teachings from Western Australia’s flagship dance company.
“We are running a full four weeks of engagement so we are really excited to have the opportunity to work with such a variety of young people from Karratha,” said Jo Omodei, who graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) in 2018.
As well as running workshops at Millars Well Primary School, Pegs Creek Primary School, Wickham Primary School, and Roebourne School, West Australian Ballet will also be presenting Storytime Adventures, a series of interactive stories aimed at three-to-seven-year olds, at libraries in Karratha, Dampier, Roebourne, and Wickham.
In addition to A Gala Evening with West Australian Ballet, the company will perform a separate 30-minute children’s show, Peter and the Wolf, created for three- to six-year-olds, also at the Red Earth Arts Precinct on Friday, March 24, at 11:30 AM. Â
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