CELEBRATING DAVID McALLISTER AM

On Wednesday 28 April 2021, The Friends held a gala luncheon to thank and farewell David McAllister AM for his years of service to both The Australian Ballet and the arts in general. 

During the event, David was surprised when the event took a turn and became David McAllister: This Is Your Life.

David McAllister: This Is Your Life was hosted by Elizabeth Toohey, current Ballet Mistress of The Australian Ballet and long-term dance partner and close personal friend of David’s. Elizabeth delighted David with a line-up of guests either in person or by video who recounted charming and cheeky stories from David’s extraordinary career.

They included Don McAllister (David’s father) and Dianne Morris (David’s sister); Darren Spowart (an ex-dancer of The Australian Ballet and childhood friend of David); Maina Gielgud AO (former Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet and Ballet Director); Ian McRae AO and Richard Evans (past General Managers of The Australian Ballet); Graeme Murphy AO and Janet Vernon AM (internationally renowned Australian dance choreographers); and Wesley Enoch AM (David’s partner and outgoing Director of the Sydney Festival); followed by a message of Farewell from the Company (The Australian Ballet at Sydney Opera House).

The biggest surprise of the event was the presentation to David of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, recognised internationally as one of the most sought-after in the world of dance and the highest honour from the Royal Academy of Dance. Bestowed in recognition of David’s dedication to The Australian Ballet for 40 years and for his wider contributions to the world of ballet including the Royal Academy of Dance where, in 2005, he was elected Vice President. Past recipients of the Award have included Sir Frederick Ashton, Dame Marie Rambert DBE, Rudolf Nureyev, Dame Gillian Lynne DBE, Sir Peter Wright CBE, Sir Matthew Bourne OBE, Maina Gielgud AO and Carlos Acosta CBE.

The Award was presented by Dame Darcey Bussell DBE and Audrey Nicholls OAM FRAD on behalf of the Royal Academy of Dance.  Bussell is widely acclaimed as one of the great British ballerinas, having been a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet and guest artist with many leading companies around the world including The Australian Ballet. She retired from ballet in 2007, is a former judge of BBC TV dance contest Strictly Come Dancing and President of the Royal Academy of Dance. Dame Darcey said “I am absolutely thrilled that David is receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, the highest honour the Royal Academy of Dance can bestow, given in recognition of outstanding service to the art of dance.”

This joyous celebration of David also raised over $150,000 for the McAllister Fund, ensuring David’s legacy of generosity will continue well into the future.

Supporting the David McAllister Fund

Celebrating David McAllister AM is a milestone farewell occasion with profits from the event benefitting The David McAllister Fund. The Australian Ballet established The David McAllister Fund to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary career of David McAllister. David has generously donated to the company for many years; this gave him the freedom to invest in the people around him and make special projects possible. The vision is that The David McAllister Fund will give future artistic directors of The Australian Ballet the same opportunities.

The David McAllister Special Event Committee

Chair – Vicki Jones
Lyndi Adler, Kenneth Groves, Catherine Haigh, Greg Khoury, Bruce Pollack AM, Noel Staunton, Elizabeth Toohey, Kenneth Watkins AM

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