About Us

 

BAL HISTORY

Many of our original members formerly belonged to the Australasian branch of the British Ballet Organisation (London), which was established in 1936.

Ballet Australasia Ltd (BAL) was founded by those members who, after British Chairman Edward Kelland-Espinosa retired in the mid 1980’s, decided to form their own independent organisation administered entirely in Australia for the purpose of providing excellent teaching syllabi in all dance styles.

Foundation Directors Enid Hall and Dorothy Kerr BEM headed the new organisation, commissioning new Ballet and Tap syllabi, music and teaching aids from leading dance educators, to add to the existing Australian Jazz Ballet and National Character syllabi.

In 1994 BAL purchased permanent premises containing a studio and administrative headquarters in Surry Hills, Sydney.

 20161013_130718Studio space at Goulburn Street premises.  

Exterior of Goulburn Street premises

 

 

PAST BAL PRESIDENTS

ENID HALL              1987 – 1997

ROBYN BETTS          1997 – 2002

HILDA EASTON       2003 – 2008

MARY EASTON        2008 – 2014, 2023 – current

AUDREY A WARD   2014 – 2020

CHRISTOPHER WOOD   2020 – 2022

BAL LIFE MEMBERS

HILDA EASTON          AUDREY A WARD           WENDY KENNEDY            ROBYN NEWTON        MARY EASTON
BAL PATRON

RACHAEL BECK 

rach-pdf-second-headshot-1

One of Australia’s leading performers, Rachael Beck is a multi-faceted, award-winning powerhouse whose talents span across stage and screen, as both an acclaimed vocal artist and actress.

Rachael won acclaim for her performance of ‘Diana’ in Black Swans production of Next to Normal in 2015
She also played ‘The Bakers Wife ‘
in Harvest Rain’s Into The Woods opposite Eddie Perfect at QPAC in 2015.
Also in 2015 she played “Arthurs“ girlfriend, Sarah in QTC’s Mother and Son.

She starred as Truly Scrumptious in TML Enterprises national production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Rachael Beck is currently touring alongside David Hobson in their show Both Sides.

Rachael’s theatre credits include Eureka for Essgee Entertainment, directed by Gale Edwards; ‘Sally Bowles’ in IMG’s Cabaret, directed by Sam Mendes; ‘Kathy Selden’ in Singing in the Rain directed by David Atkins, earning her a Mo Award nomination and ‘Maria’ in The Gordon/Frost Organization/SEL production of The Sound of Music.

Rachael is widely remembered for her award-winning role as Belle opposite Hugh Jackman in Beauty and the Beast, which won the 1996 ARIA Award for the Best Australian Soundtrack/Cast/Show Release. Her outstanding credits include her Green Award nominated performance as ‘Fantine’ in Les Miserables and ‘Rumpleteaser’ in Cats, both produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Rachael’s theatre credits for the STC include ‘Peg Hartigan’ in Summer Rain directed by Robyn Nevin, Secret Bridesmaid’s Business, as ‘Fredrika’ in A Li le Night Music, ‘Lady Mortimer’ in Henry IV and Me and My Girl which toured Australia and New Zealand for the Adelaide Festival; and for The Production Company include The Pajama Game, Call Me Madam and Big Hair in America, which premiered at the Hot House Theatre.

Rachael’s screen credits include City Homicide, Stingers, Mercury, The Feds, This Man This Woman, GP, Flying Doctors,Home & Away and Hey Dad.

Rachael is a “City of Sydney Eisteddfod” adjudicator and does residencies in schools such as Pymble Ladies College,Canterbury College and Villanova College.
Rachael is a proud Ambassador for The Australian Childrens’ Music Foundation.