ABOUT US

Friends of the Australian Ballet SA (FABSA) is an Adelaide-based not-for-profit organisation, established principally to support The Australian Ballet and promote ballet and the appreciation of ballet in South Australia.

The Friends organisation provides support for our national company, The Australian Ballet, and for guest companies visiting from interstate and overseas. We also work to encourage a deeper knowledge and understanding of ballet and dance by providing closer contact with the dancers, with the Artists who work behind the scenes and with The Australian Ballet as a working organisation.

The Friends bring together lovers of ballet and dance from all walks of life to meet and share in the enjoyment of this beautiful art and to extend this pleasure to the community.

The Friends raise funds by offering our Members exclusive events including:

• Priority purchase of Dress Rehearsal tickets for The Australian Ballet Adelaide Season

• Attendance at Behind the Scenes events such as Class on Stage

• Cocktail functions and luncheons with special guests from The Australian Ballet alumni

• Film screenings of International Dance events

• Invitation to attend ‘up close and personal tour’ of The Australian Ballet in Melbourne including studio visit and meeting with TAB dancers and management

• Invitations to talks and link up events with The Australian Ballet guest dancers, management and support staff

• Annual Members Christmas event

• Exclusive invitation to FABSA ‘member only’ events

The Friends are also committed to the development of new talent and interest, by providing clothing scholarships for South Australian students of The Australian Ballet School and donation to The Australian Ballet - Storytime Ballet.  As an advocate for all forms of dance in South Australia the Friends also provide support and awareness for other forms of dance through sponsorship and promotion of interest in events.

History

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The Australian Ballet Forum was co-founded by Beverley Brown and the late Lorna Hurford on Tuesday 28 January 1992 at Chesser Cellars, Adelaide, when more than one hundred enthusiasts of ballet and dance gathered to celebrate the formation of a support organisation for dance in Adelaide. The Forum was established in response to the enthusiasm of ballet lovers in South Australia, to fulfill their need and desire for a local organisation to support the national company on its annual visits, as well as to stimulate interest in and support for all aspects of dance.

In 1997, in response to a request from the management of The Australian Ballet, the name Friends of The Australian Ballet (S.A.) Inc. was adopted to assist with the marketing of auxiliary groups around Australia.