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Australia's fever for ballet began in the early 20th century with the arrival of Anna Pavlova, and later, the Ballet Russes, who enraptured audiences and galvanised Australia's first ballet company - the Borovansky Ballet.

Come the 1980s, the Australian economy was booming. It was a time of excess and consumption, and The Australian Ballet's audience was broader than ever before.

The Australian Ballet entered the new millennium with a bold creative appointment. Fresh from the dancer's ranks and with no leadership experience, David McAllister took over from Ross Stretton as Artistic Director in 2001.