The Australian Ballet promotes talented trio to Principal rank

For immediate release from 9pm Saturday 6 November 2010

Kevin Jackson Lana Jones Daniel Gaudiello The Australian Ballet Photograph by James Braund

Daniel Gaudiello, Kevin Jackson and Lana Jones promoted at Penrith

Talented trio become principal artists at The Australian Ballet

The Australian Ballet welcomes three new principal artists to its ranks. Artistic Director David McAllister made the surprise announcement onstage at Telstra Ballet in the Stadium in Penrith tonight.

Senior Artists Daniel Gaudiello (28 from Brisbane), Kevin Jackson (26 from Perth) and Lana Jones (28 from Canberra) were told the exciting news during curtain calls at the free outdoor performance, surrounded by colleagues and their families. McAllister praised each dancer, citing a number of exceptional performances as a factor in their elevation to principal artist. “Daniel, Kevin and Lana each have a star quality that has seen them dazzle in a broad range of principal roles. They are wonderful artists in their own right and demonstrate the breadth of talent in the company that will ensure our ongoing success as we head towards our 50th anniversary.”

Kevin becomes the youngest principal artist at The Australian Ballet, while Daniel and Lana share their success both on and off the stage, having married on New Year’s Eve 2009. It is the first principal artist announcement since Danielle Rowe and Adam Bull were promoted in June 2008.

Daniel, Kevin and Lana will take up their coveted positions in January 2011.

All three are performing in Edge of night at the Sydney Opera House from November 11. The dancers’ ascent to the upper echelons of The Australian Ballet has been an exhilarating journey. All three have won the Telstra Ballet Dancer Award in their careers, a major indicator of star potential within the company.

Daniel has impressed in a number of show stopping roles. From tugging heartstrings as the lovelorn doll Petrouchka (2009) to deftly partnering Madeleine Eastoe’s Swanilda in DANIEL GAUDIELLO

“Daniel Gaudiello is staking a claim as the company’s next Steven Heathcote” HERALD SUN 2010

Brisbane-born Daniel strapped on his first pair of dancing shoes at the age of six at the Johnny Young Talent School. Later he  completed the Queensland Dance School of Excellence and Queensland Ballet professional year before being accepted into The Australian Ballet School. Daniel joined The Australian Ballet in 2004 and made his choreographic debut with a piece called Notte in Bianco for Bodytorque.To the Pointe. promoted to senior artist at the beginning of 2010.

AWARDS

- Telstra Ballet Dancer Award winner 2007

“Kevin Jackson proves an ideal partner, romantic softness borne through easy extension, effortless  levation and tidy phrase endings” THE AUSTRALIAN 2010

- Helpmann Award for best female dancer in 2009