SOLD OUT
An Unforgettable Evening of Dance & Music
This exceptional concert is a tribute to unity – a symphonic celebration of love and the heartfelt resilience of the human spirit. All funds raised in support of the Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
A showcase of some of WA’s finest dancers, classical musicians, and performing artists – this event will feature renowned former WA Ballet principal dancers Claire Voss and Christian Luck, soloist dancer Sarah Hepburn and former Australian Ballet dancer Elizabeth Cumming; along with the polished and powerful Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers; and the world premiere of an original 25-minute ballet “A Tree We Grew” choreographed by international guest artist and dancer Ivan Tarakanov, with original composition by Valery Niazov.
“A Tree We Grew” the ballet tells a story of love, growth, resilience, and the interconnectedness of humanity. Audiences will transported by this original artistic work where classical arrangements blend seamlessly with the tapestry of folk traditions, as choir harmonies weave emotions, and dance becomes the movement of your imagination.
Join us as the Perth community unites for an event that will uplifts hearts and nurture hope.
- 7:30pm ~ Thursday, 5th October 2023. Doors open 7:00 pm
- $49.50 Standard - $39.00 Concession
- John Inverarity Music & Drama Centre - Hale School, Unwin Ave, Wembley Downs WA 6019
For media enquiries call John Beaton on 0431 677 759 or email pharlap@iinet.net.au
Proudly supported by the City of Stirling
Principal Ballerina
Principal Dancer
Dancer
Dancer
Choreographer & Dancer
Composer
Principal Ballerina
Claire Voss
Claire studied ballet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with First Class Honours in Dance.
Her career in the highest circles of professional ballet took off in 2006 when she was invited to join Dortmund Ballet in Germany and she worked as a Demi-Soloist at other esteemed ballet institutions such as Zurich Ballet in Switzerland, Finnish National Ballet and finished her incredible career on stage in 2022 at West Australian Ballet. She has performed work by world renowned choreographers such as William Forsyth, George Balanchine, and Marius Petipa, while also lending her grace to interpret principal roles in masterpieces like the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Myrtha in Giselle. Her experience extended to choreography when she also had the opportunity to choreograph multiple pieces on the dancers of West Australian Ballet and for TV commercials.
Principal Dancer
Christian Luck
Born in Sydney, Christian commenced his training at the McDonald College of performing arts before being accepted into the Australian Ballet School where he completed a 3 year course, graduating with a diploma in dance.
In 2004, Christian joined the West Australian Ballet where he danced professionally for 18 years, making him the company’s longest serving member in their 70-year history. Christian danced numerous roles in his time with the company including several principal roles during that time.
Having now retired from ballet, Christian is very excited to pass on his knowledge of dance to the future generations of ballet stars.
Dancer
Elizabeth Cumming
Elizabeth danced professionally with The Australian Ballet and in Europe. Her professional experience has enabled her to have been taught and inspired by many world renowned teachers from companies around the world.
Elizabeth commenced her ballet training in New Zealand with Lorraine Peters at Southern Ballet School in central Christchurch. She performed in their Junior Company as well as making several appearances with the Royal NZ Ballet and in a gala concert with Rudolf Nureyev as a young student.
At the age of 16 she was awarded a study scholarship to the National Theatre School in Melbourne for full-time ballet training and one year later was invited by Maina Gielgud to join the Australian Ballet Company.
She has performed in many full-length and short ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Coppelia, La Sylphide, Onegin and The Merry Widow, Suite en Blanc, Etudes, Graduation Ball. She has worked alongside or performed in works by many world renowned choreographers including Stanton Welsh (Houston Ballet), and Jiri Kylian (Nederlands Dans Theater).
Dancer
Sarah Hepburn
Sarah trained as a dancer at Stevens Dance Academy under the tutelage of June Stevens and went on to complete 3 years at WAAPA. In her final year at WAAPA, Sarah was accepted to the West Australian Ballet where she danced all the principal roles from Juliet to Giselle to Lise and many others. She also worked and performed with many well-known international and Australian choreographers. Sarah guested frequently with Perth City Ballet as a principal.
She left WA Ballet at the end of 2018 to spend more time with her young family and now is a Perth based freelance dancer often performing with Australian Baroque in the Candlelight shows.
Choreographer & Dancer
Ivan Tarakanov
Winner of the First Prize of Italian Ballet competition in Rieti, Italy. Special Grand Prix (Best male dancer of the competition) Ivan Tarakanov has worked around the world with the world famous choreographers and ballet companies as a principal dancer and performed as a guest star at Quarry Amphitheatre on the invitation from Perth City Ballet. His international touring including Australia, Japan, USA (including at the Kennedy Centre), Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, Italy, and Israel etc. to sold-out shows.
Composer
Valery Niazov
Born in Uzbekistan where he graduated with a master’s degree from the Tashkent State Conservatorium of Music, Valery worked as a lecturer and music teacher, composer, conductor, and a full-time producer and writer of Classical Music and the Arts programs at the State Television Company.
After immigrating to Australia in 1990, Valery taught music and composed music in a range of genres for television, international arts festivals, theatre, charity projects and multimedia productions.
“A Tree We Grew” is the second ballet composed by Valery. His first ballet, “Rain of Life,” successfully premiered at the Banbury Arts Festival. However, Valery’s passion is working with communities for which he was nominated for WA Premier Multicultural Community Award and received the WA Governor’s Award.
One Night Only! Don't miss A Tree We Grew - Concert for Ukraine
Thursday, 5th October at Hale School Theatre
Coassack Dancers
Violinist
Pianist
Pianist
Dancers
Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers
The polished and powerful Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers have been captivating audiences with their graceful and acrobatic traditional Ukrainian folk dance since 1991. Roztiazhka are a non-profit amateur dance company of over 25 dancers. They strive to keep the tradition of Ukrainian dancing alive in Perth and across Australia, regularly performing at national and local festivals. The group has featured multiple times on Australia’s Got Talent (2008, 2011).
The dancers include: Ivan Wityk, Peter Wityk, Andrew Lozyk, Daniel Lozyk, Phil Benson, Jeremy Simon, Alister Walters, Victoria Holovko, Sophia Holovka, Danielle Seetsen, Tayissa Sweetlove, Hanya Furdas, and Stephanie Parin.
Violinist
Anastaysia Dudar
Australian Ukrainian violinist with education from some of the leading institutions in Europe, the USA and Australia. Anastaysia holds a Bachelor of Music (honors 1) from the Lviv National Academy of Music, Ukraine and a Master of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, USA. She has also studied at Sydney Conservatorium of Music at a Doctoral level.
Anastaysia is a winner of Multiple international awards, scholarships, and fellowships and with performances at the prestigious music festivals and masterclasses including Yale University Summer School of Music (USA) and Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara (USA). Throughout the years she played studied with James Ehnes, Joshua Bell, Stanley Ritchie, Gabor Takacs-Nagy and Andres Fejer (Takacs String Quartet), Ani Kavafian, Zvi Zeitlin, Jorja Fleezanis, Kathleen Winkler, Jerome Lowenthal, Henryk Kowalski, Oleh Krysa, Mischa Lefkowitz and Goetz Richter.
Anastasiya is regularly performing as a soloist, chamber music and orchestra player.
Pianist
Irina Buevska-Cowell
Australian Concert Pianist of Ukrainian descent, Irina is Internationally acclaimed recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician, and also the Music Director of Cappuccino Concerts Australia. Irina has participated in various festivals, international masterclasses and chamber music projects. She is highly involved in the education and outreach of classical music.
Pianist
Yitzhak Yedid
Australian Israeli composer with PhD – Monash University, Melbourne, Australia BMus, piano (Hons) – Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem, Israel and Studies for Masters – New England Conservatory, Boston, USA . He is an adjunct Professor of Music at WAPA . Yitzhak multiple international award winner with his compositions ranging from piano solo, piano concertos, piano quintets, string quartets and many other works performed by the famous international symphony and chamber orchestras, quartets and soloists.
One Night Only! Don't miss A Tree We Grew - Concert for Ukraine
Thursday, 5th October at Hale School Theatre
Help Ukraine now
All proceeds raised from the A Tree We Grew – A Concert for Ukraine are in support of the Ukraine Crisis Appeal to help provide emergency and humanitarian aid to those affected by russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukraine Сrisis Appeal is the largest Australian tax-deductible fundraising effort for Ukraine. It is a collaboration between:
- Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO)
- Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)
- Caritas Ukraine