West Australian Ballet waltzes into new home

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has officially opened the West Australian Ballet Centre in Maylands - the new permanent home of the West Australian Ballet.

The new state of the art facility features stunning new studios within a heritage-listed warehouse-style premises in Perth's northern suburbs.

Thanks to a $12 million fundraising campaign, the company has moved from its old, cramped premises at His Majesty's Theatre in the city - which it shared with the WA Opera Company - to the former WA Royal Institute and Industrial School for the Blind.

The industrial-scale building in Maylands has been a Perth icon since it was founded in 1898, and now houses three new studios, a wardrobe and production centre, gymnasium and administrative offices.

While the ballet company will continue to perform at His Majesty's Theatre and other venues in Perth, the new WA Ballet Centre, as it has been named, will host "studio style" performances and events open to the public.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said the new centre would add to the "vibrancy and cosmopolitan nature" of Maylands and would become a new landmark, adding "the ballet now has a permanent, long-term home with plenty of space."

WA Ballet Chairman Bret Mattes described the new building as a "unique cultural asset for the state which will benefit generations of West Australians.

"The opening of this wonderful facility is also an important opportunity to recognise that a rich cultural life goes hand-in-hand with economic development."

Artistic director Ivan Cavalari described the new premises as "among the best in the world".

"We have an elite and very special company of dancers who can now be nurtured, trained and rehearsed in a professional facility."

Speaking at the launch Premier Barnett highlighted the partnerships that had backed the move, highlighting the "support for the centre has come from the State Government, Lotterywest; City of Bayswater; Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA); and the private sector.

"For example, Lotterywest provided a grant of $7.1million towards the construction of a new community centre in Maylands and as a result of this investment, the City of Bayswater made funding available for the purchase of the Whatley Crescent building."

The Western Australian Government, through DCA, provided $2million towards the core fit-out of the new centre and provides recurrent funding of $1.6million annually.

An additional $1.2million has also been provided to the West Australian Ballet over the last four years to increase its company of dancers and deliver an extra season.

The West Australian Ballet is the oldest of Australia's ballet companies that is still in existence today. It celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding by Madame Kira Bousloff this year.

For more information go to www.waballet.com.au/about_us.php