Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Olivia Stewart

‘Make it more noisy’: the young dancer shaking up Australian ballet

Ballet Australia Alexander Campbell Conor McGregor big Brisbane Pandemic Royal Ballet
Joel Burke lifts Juliet Doherty on stage with members of the band Selfish Sons at the back of the stage. The stage is lit up in purple and there is colourful abstract art as the backdrop
Part ballet gala, part rock concert: Joel Burke with Juliet Doherty, backed by Selfish Sons, at the first Ballet International Gala in January. Photograph: Craig Ratcliffe

Classical ballet has never found it easy to connect to the masses – but Joel Burke, a 22-year-old dancer from Brisbane, reckons inspiration could be found in an unlikely place: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

As the world’s biggest Mixed Martial Arts league, UFC is a multi-billion dollar global juggernaut, staging fights in 28 countries, with huge sponsorship deals and stars like Conor McGregor pulling in millions of dollars each bout.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Does your sleep tracker get it right? A Pittsburgh neuroscientist weighs in
On a typical night, I go to bed wearing a tracking watch on one wrist and another type of tracker on the other wrist. Then I compare their sleep findings while I drink my morning coffee.
The Conversation
The Conversation
There's A Reason Taxi Cabs Are Almost Always Yellow
Yellow taxis are easy to spot in traffic, but the color's history goes far beyond simple visibility.
Motor1
Motor1
How ‘technoference’ can disrupt parent-child connections
Have you ever been telling someone a story when their phone lights up, and their eyes flicker toward their device?
The Conversation
The Conversation
Holding Lightning by Emily Lordi review – an intimate portrait of Whitney Houston
An empathetic biography of the the singer recasts her tumultuous later career as a triumph of self-expression
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Brian May says Queen are retiring from live tours: ‘Maybe 50 years is enough’
Rock guitarist suggested creating an interactive experience for fans similar to the ‘Abba Voyage’ show
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
"Lanterns" finds its power in fear
To fulfill his destiny, John Stewart embraces what he was trained to reject — and so should we
Salon
Salon
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play