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Kunstkamer: The Australian Ballet's “beautiful monster” is dance perfection

David Hallberg in Kunstkamer
© Daniel Boud
Artists of Australian Ballet in Kunstkamer
© Daniel Boud
Katherine Sonnekus in Kunstjamer
© Prudence Upton
Artists of Australian Ballet in Kunstkamer
© Daniel Boud
Artists of Australian Ballet in Kunstkamer
© Daniel Boud
By Chantal Nguyen, 05 May 2022
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“by intermission, it was clear that all the hype actually undersold the magnificence”
Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney on 3 May 2022
Programme
Kunstkamer (Paul Lightfoot, Sol León, Crystal Pite, Marco Goecke)
Performers
The Australian Ballet
Joke Visser, Costume Designer
Tom Bevoort, Lighting Designer
Opera Australia Orchestra
Hermien Hollander, Costume Designer
Udo Haberland, Lighting Designer
Tom Visser, Lighting Designer
David Hallberg, Dancer
Katherine Sonnekus, Dancer
More Dance reviews
Love, humour and drama at the Staatsballett Berlin
Vikki Jane Vile, 15th November
Staatsballett Berlin continue its run of this popular double bill, 2 Chapters Love, named after Sharon Eyal’s work and a follow up to 2017’s to Love Chapter 2.
****1
New English Ballet Theatre and Norwegian National Ballet 2 ooze talent
Deborah Weiss, 15th June
The junior English and Norwegian companies brought contrasting works, showcasing a great abundance of young talent.
****1
Norwegian National Ballet: a showstopping triple bill
Graham Watts, 3rd February
An adventurous triple bill of vintage works new to Norway. 
****1
NDT2 in Berlin: Let the Dust settle
Katja Vaghi, 11th October
NDT 2’s 'microcosm' is on display at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele with a mixed bill of four works created for these young talents
***11
NDT brings a successful mixed programme to London
Graham Watts, 26th June
Everything Pite choreographs turns to gold and when Young is also involved it’s an especially rich vein.
****1
A feast of virtuosi dances
Lambrecht Wessels, 24th May
Shut Eye (Lightfoot & León) is like an alternating current. Woke Up Blind (Goecke) is entertaining and vulnerable. Pite's work hits the rythmic nail on the head. You want to freeze-frame Pite's dancers, snap a picture and hang it on the wall.
****1
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Crystal PiteDavid HallbergJoke VisserKatherine SonnekusMarco GoeckeOpera Australia OrchestraPaul LightfootSol LeónThe Australian BalletTom VisserUdo Haberland
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Chantal Nguyen
Chantal Nguyen
Chantal has a background in ballet and contemporary dance, and was the first Australian to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Higher Level Dance. She has completed violin studies, and plays regularly in Sydney ensembles. She also dabbles in folk songs and subversive musical parody.