ABOUT BTQ

On March 22 1937, in Brisbane, a small band of dedicated ballet teachers, led by the indomitable Miss Phyllis Danaher, established the Queensland branch of the newly formed Australasian Society of Operatic Dancing, an umbrella organisation for teachers of ballet.

This was the genesis of Ballet Theatre Queensland (BTQ), now arguably Queensland’s, if not Australia’s, leading youth ballet company.

Eighty years of existence for any arts organisation takes passion, resilience and imagination, and BTQ’s history, reading like a who’s who of the State’s dance luminaries, is also a reflection of the history of dance in Queensland.

Since its inception BTQ has continued to provide professionally staged performance opportunities for talented Queensland dancers. The company bridges the divide between the academy and the professional stage, by introducing dancers to the processes behind the production of a professional ballet, staged in a professional venue.

A not-for-profit incorporated organisation, BTQ is independent of any dance academy, auditioning annually for its dancers from across South East Queensland. Currently the main BTQ season is held annually in January, utilising all dancers in two casts, in classic ballets that target a family audience, aiming to develop an appreciation of ballet amongst younger audience members, while still having great appeal to the older ballet lover.

PATRON

David McAllister AM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Craig Spencer – Chair

Craig Cathcart

Sharon Christodoulou

Barbara Eversen

Nicole Kielly-Coleman

Karen McGahan

Courtney Tuttle

Jeremy Wicht

COMPANY PERSONNEL