New dancers join Qld Ballet for 2016

Next year Queensland Ballet will welcome four new Company Dancers and seven new Young Artists. Artistic Director Li Cunxin (right) said he was delighted to have four new dancers joining the Company along with a number of dancers who have been promoted through the Company's training programs.

"I'm very proud of our 2015 Young Artists David Power, Liam Geck and Georgia Swan who have been promoted to the rank of Company Dancer for next year," Mr Li said.

"We will also be welcoming a new Company Dancer from the Liaoning Ballet in China, ZuQuan Kou. I first saw Kou dance at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (BIBCC) that I was judging earlier this year.

"Kou won the gold medal at the competition and was certainly stood out as a remarkable dancer. I'm excited about the skill and talent that Kou will bring to Queensland Ballet."

Mr Li also announced seven new Jette Parker Young Artists joining the Company from both within the training programs and from external ballet schools.

"It is always our hope that our training programs will develop dancers to a professional level so I'm delighted to see Harley Campbell, Zoe Doonar, Harry Davis and Samuel Packer graduate from our Pre Professional Program into Young Artists this year.”

Mr Li also announced three new dancers as Jette Parker Young Artists as part of the program's commitment to offering international dancers the opportunity to work with the Company.

"We will welcome Wu Ze, a young Chinese dancer who I first saw perform at the BIBCC this year. I was immediately impressed with his dancing, " he said.

"Yayoi Matches is a young New Zealand/Japanese dancer who stood out in our Brisbane auditions for the Company and she joins us from New Zealand School of Dance.

"Tim Neff, a German dancer from the Zurich Dance Academie will also join our Young Artists and comes with a considerable amount of experience for his years.

“Along with this news of new dancers joining the QB family, there are our inevitable farewells as some of our dancers move on to explore new opportunities."

Principal Dancer Hao Bin will leave this year after four and a half years with Queensland Ballet.

Company Dancers Sarah Thompson, Mia Thompson and Nathan Brook will also not return in 2016 as they seek opportunities to dance with other companies. Nathan Brook moves on to join The Australian Ballet in 2016.

2015 Young Artists Phebe Murison, Ari Thompson and Atau Watanabe will leave the Company at the end of the 2015 season.

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