Australian Ballet costumes damaged by flooding
Written by on March 12th, 2010 in Latest News.
Lana Jones is a senior artist with The Australian Ballet in Melbourne. The company had hundreds of costumes hurt in storms last weekend. (Justin Smith/Australian Ballet)
The Australian Ballet is engaged in a salvage operation for its costumes and sets after fierce storms that hit Melbourne last weekend flooded a storage facility.
Nearly every production by Australia’s flagship classical ballet corps was affected, according to wardrobe store manager Barbara Langley.
Hail blocked drain pipes and contaminated water flooded through the 100-year-ancient wool store where the company stores its costumes and props.
Hundreds of tutus got wet, and dirty water has tarnished both backdrops and costumes.
Company employees are washing and soaking tutus in an effort to salvage the stock, some of it with significant historic value.
“We’ve got costumes from 1962 when The Australian Ballet first started,” Langley said.
“The older ones on the floor above, I haven’t even had time to go through because they’re historical and only come out for exhibitions, so they have to take second place to the costumes that are in the repertoire and need to be used.”
Technical production director David Conway said the company will continue with its scheduled season, despite the disruption.
“We can’t yet quantify how much hurt there has been because we’re finding new things each day,” he said, adding that sometimes stage lighting will show up hurt that might not otherwise be visible.
With files from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
