BIG VI Another Triumph For Ballet International Gala
Written by Sarah Skubula - ScoopAU
BIG Live, also known as Ballet International Gala, returns with its sixth concert series, the aptly titled BIG VI. A true celebration of global ballet excellence, the gala features guest artists from some of the world’s top companies, performing iconic solos and pas de deux alongside BIG Live’s Principal Artists. For ballet lovers, it’s an unmissable event.
Now in its fourth year, BIG Live is poised to become the most attended ballet company in Australia and New Zealand, a remarkable feat for co-Directors Joel Burke and Khalid Tarabay, who are transforming the ballet landscape.
This latest series underscores their commitment to international collaboration and accessibility, bringing world-class ballet to audiences without the need to travel far. The result? A night at the ballet that feels both grand and close to home.
The evening opens with a memorable pas de deux danced by Joel Burke and BIG Live Principal Abbey Hansen, set to a live performance of the haunting jazz lullaby Summertime by Lily Burke. With her smooth tone and remarkable vocal control, Lily’s rendition is captivating. It’s hard to know whether to keep your eyes on her or the dancers.
From there, the stage belongs to the dancers. This year’s program showcases excerpts rarely seen on Australian stages, including selections from Le Corsaire, Thaïs, Diana & Acteon, and Le Talisman.
Among the evening’s many highlights, the Don Quixote segments near the finale steal the show. Staatsballett Berlin Principal Iana Salenko and Astana Opera Principal Adamzhan Baktiyar deliver breathtaking work, including a stunning lift that seems to defy logic. Their solos and partner work are nothing short of electric.
Salenko captivates every time she steps on stage. Her pas de deux with Marian Walter, fellow Principal of Staatsballett Berlin, in the Thaïs segment is utterly mesmerising. She closes Act One with Sola by Victor Ullate, a raw, emotional exploration of isolation, imagination, and the redemptive power of art. With only a chair, and accompanied by a dramatic piano and violin score, Salenko’s performance is a masterclass in expressive movement.
Daniil Simkin, star of American Ballet Theatre, impresses with a commanding solo from Lohengrin, blending strength with delicate artistry. He also shines in Le Corsaire, partnered by Alice McArthur of The Australian Ballet. Soon to join the Vienna State Ballet, McArthur delivers a poised and emotive Giselle, marked by exquisite footwork and dramatic nuance.
Maria Khoreva of the Mariinsky Theatre and Makar Mikhalkin from the Bolshoi Ballet are a captivating duo, performing breathtaking excerpts from Le Talisman and Romeo & Juliet with elegance and chemistry.
Audiences are also given a tantalising preview of BIG Live’s upcoming Dracula, premiering in early September. Abbey Hansen and Huw Pritchard, both BIG Live Principals, portray the eerie moment when Jonathan is haunted by Mina’s ghost. Set to the live piano performed by Tobi Clark, it’s a chilling and beautiful duet.
As always, the concert ends with a crowd favourite: the BIG Band, fronted by Lily Burke, taking to the stage with a live rock set as dancers break into freestyle. It’s a joyful, electric finale, and a perfect close to an unforgettable evening.
With dazzling international talent, rarely seen repertoire, and a fresh approach to ballet presentation, BIG VI delivers a thrilling night at the theatre. BIG VI celebrates what ballet can and should be: bold, collaborative, and joyously untraditional. Whether you come for the virtuosity or the sheer spectacle, BIG Live continues to prove that ballet is very much alive, and evolving, in Australia.