Victorian State Ballet
Aladdin
A magical journey of artistry, opportunity and the next generation of dancers
The Victorian State Ballet continues to go from strength to strength, and its latest production of Aladdin is a wonderful example of the company’s growing artistic depth and ambitious vision. Lavish in its scale, with beautiful costumes, striking backdrops and a richly theatrical atmosphere, the production transports audiences into the exotic world of Agrabah, where love, courage and honesty triumph over greed and deception.
Much-loved by children and adults alike, Aladdin follows the journey of the quick-witted young street urchin who encounters Princess Jasmine and discovers a magical lamp containing a larger-than-life genie. What unfolds is an enchanting adventure filled with fantasy, danger and dazzling dance.
From the opening moments, the strength of the company was evident. The male cohort delivered particularly impressive performances, and the pas de deux throughout the production showcased both technical confidence and genuine artistry. The scale of the company allows for a richness of stagecraft that makes the Victorian State Ballet a truly worthwhile experience for audiences.
A particularly special element of this year’s production was the return of the Victorian State Ballet Youth Company, providing young dancers the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside professionals in a full-scale production. The excitement of these young performers was palpable backstage as they prepared to step onto the stage.
Among them were 11-year-old Ruth and 12-year-old Willow from Demi-Jean Dance, who both embraced the opportunity to be part of such a large professional production.
For Ruth, the decision to audition came from a simple love of dance and the knowledge that opportunities like this are rare.
“I heard that my friends and other people at my studio were doing it, and I thought it was a really great opportunity that only comes once a year. I knew that if I loved dance so much, I wanted to do it,” she says.
Willow was equally drawn to the chance to perform in Aladdin.
“I just really wanted to be in Aladdin this year, and I thought it would be so fun,” she says. “I like the story and all the characters.”
While stepping into a youth company environment brought its own challenges, both dancers found the experience rewarding. Ruth admitted she did not know exactly what to expect but quickly settled into the rehearsal process.
“Once I did my audition, I kind of knew what to expect and I just started to relax. It was a challenge, but it was still fun and easy enough.”
Willow agreed that while some aspects were demanding, the joy of performing made the hard work worthwhile.
“Some of the things were hard and it was a bit tiring, but it was so fun in the end.”
Both young dancers spoke enthusiastically about finally seeing months of preparation come to life on stage, with Ruth looking forward to experiencing the spectacular costumes and seeing all their work come together, while Willow was excited not only to perform but also to watch the older dancers in the company.
It was also a delight to reconnect with two dancers previously featured in dancetrain. Artist Mimi Bostock was first featured in the magazine in 2017 as a 10-year-old student, while corps de ballet dancer Hannah Scott was profiled in 2023 during her training at Redlands Dance Academy.
For Hannah, her journey into the Victorian State Ballet has been a rapid and exciting transition. After completing her training at Redlands and spending time in the full-time ballet program at the Queensland College of Dance, she was offered a position with Victorian State Ballet as a Pre-Professional Year dancer.
“I had heard amazing things about Victorian State Ballet, and then I got a position. I was very lucky,” she says.
Only two to three months into her time with the company, Hannah already feels she has found the right environment.
“It’s amazing. Everyone is so beautiful, and Michelle is such a beautiful Assistant Director, and Martin (Artistic Director) is amazing too. It ticked all the boxes.”
One of the biggest surprises has been the sheer amount of stage experience she has gained in such a short time.
“I think I’m performing more than I expected, but I’m really happy about that because there are just so many opportunities.”
Reflecting on her years at Redlands Dance Academy, Hannah credits her teachers Gilly Revie, Kate Larter and Samantha Simpson for preparing her for the demands of professional life.
“Doing lots of performances, lots of classes and repertoire really prepared me well. Having a bunch of different teachers was amazing.”
Looking back at her final year of training, Hannah admits she would have struggled to believe she would so quickly be establishing herself in Melbourne with a professional company.
“I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” she says. “I’m very happy where I am now. I didn’t think I would be moving to Melbourne, but it’s so lovely and I’m so grateful.”
Any uncertainty she felt about moving away disappeared almost immediately.
“Even after my first day, I knew I wanted to be there.”
In Aladdin, Hannah appears throughout the bustling opening market scenes and performs in the wedding dance, a newly created section for the company.
“The wedding dance is probably my favourite. It’s our first time performing it tonight,” she says.
With this being only her third performance with the company, Hannah’s excitement is understandable. Her story reflects exactly what the Victorian State Ballet offers, a bridge between training and professional experience, where emerging artists are given meaningful opportunities to grow.
With its impressive professional cast, vibrant youth company and commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers, Aladdin is more than a beautiful production. It is a celebration of the entire ballet journey, from young dancers taking their first steps onto a professional stage to emerging artists finding their place within a company. It is a magical experience and a production well worth seeing.