The Australian Ballet has announced that multi-award-winning choreographer Stephanie Lake will join the company in January 2024 as Resident Choreographer. Lake has been a guest choreographer during The Australian Ballet On Tour 2023 season. She replaces Alice Topp, who will step down from the Resident Choreographer role in December at the end of her five-year tenure. 

Stephanie Lake. Photo © Pedro Greig

Lake brings critically acclaimed experience to the role. As Artistic Director of Stephanie Lake Company, she has established herself as a visionary with major works which have been performed across Australia and toured internationally, including Colossus, Monsters and her work for nine dancers and nine drummers, Manifesto, which has enjoyed sellout seasons around the country.

Australian Conductor Simon Thew has been announced as the new Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Houston Ballet, effective 1 July, 2024. Working with the company since 2022 as Associate Conductor, Thew has already conducted the Houston Ballet Orchestra across many productions. 

Simon Thew. Photo © Alana Campbell, courtesy of Houston Ballet.

The company’s current Artistic Director is another Australian,...