The Australian Ballet
Dance X
The Australian Ballet is proud to announce the return of DanceX, a festival spanning over two weeks that celebrates the extraordinary depth, range, and diversity of dance across Australia and New Zealand.
Curated by The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg, DanceX will take place from 8 – 19 October, across three venues at Arts Centre Melbourne: the Playhouse theatre, Fairfax Studio and The Show Room. The opening week at the Playhouse theatre is generously supported by Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.
DanceX is a curated celebration of dance in all its forms from contemporary to classical, and experimental to traditional, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the vitality and vision of the region’s top companies and independent artists all in one place. It is the only festival of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, uniting leading creative voices from across the dance sector in a single, thrilling festival.
Following the success of the inaugural DanceX in 2022, this year’s festival brings together 14 of Australia and New Zealand’s most acclaimed dance companies and choreographers, including The Australian Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, West Australian Ballet, Stephanie Lake Company, Restless Dance Theatre, Dancenorth, NT Dance Company, and choreographers Timothy Harbour, Lucy Guerin, Jenni Large, Jayden Lewis Wall, Melissa Pham and Melanie Lane.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg said, “I’m incredibly proud to be bringing DanceX back in 2025. This festival is a bold celebration of the extraordinary creativity that defines our dance community.”
“DanceX unites a broad spectrum of dance across Australia and New Zealand, from First Nations, contemporary, classical, independent and institutional. The companies and artists represented this year are only a small example of the rich community that defines the dance world around us. It’s a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the diversity, power and artistic vitality of the many cultures and creative voices that shape our stages in this part of the world,” added Hallberg.
Originally created as a one-time post-pandemic celebration, DanceX was designed to bring together some of the most significant voices in dance from across the region. The overwhelmingly positive response highlighted the ongoing need for a gathering like this leading to its return in 2025. The Australian Ballet is proud to stand alongside such incredible companies and artists, and to host and to help spotlight the extraordinary talent shaping the future of dance.
DanceX is generously enabled by Lady Potter AC CMRI and The David Hallberg Fund for Artistic Aspiration, The Hansen-Little Foundation, and Linda Herd & The Linda Herd Fund for Contemporary Work, and Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.
For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: https://australianballet.com.au/dancex-2025-program
