David McAllister is to retire from the role of Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet at the end of 2020, in what will be his 20th year leading the Company. Chairman Craig Dunn made the announcement at The Australian Ballet’s Annual General Meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

David McAllister. Photograph © James Braund

In a statement from TAB, Dunn said: “David has taken The Australian Ballet to new heights during his two decades as Artistic Director. He has decided that his twentieth-anniversary year is the right time to hand on the artistic directorship of the company he joined as a dancer straight out of The Australian Ballet School in 1983.”

“His leadership of the company has been extraordinarily successful and he will leave an enduring legacy.”

Dunn said that “an orderly succession-planning process” is in place, as an international search for McAllister’s replacement begins. “The company will begin celebrating David and his enormous contribution when we launch his final 2020 Season in September and throughout next year as David’s final season unfolds around the country,” said Dunn.

Born in Perth, McAllister studied at The Australian Ballet School and joined TAB as soon as he graduated in...