Finally, after boldly rescheduling its entire 60th anniversary year’s programming to 2021, Queensland Ballet again has something to celebrate.

The company stepped back on stage for the first time in 2020, in a special event reigniting the creative embers left smouldering in isolation. Curated by Brisbane Powerhouse as Lights On: Queensland Ballet, 60 Dancers: 60 Stories (as QB called it) turned the COVID-safe distancing into an opportunity for an intimate table-set auditorium flanking thrust staging. With just three performances and 120 seats for each, the season quickly sold out in a show of support for the company despite continuing uncertainty posed by the pandemic.

Laura Hidalgo and artists of Queensland Ballet in Act I, Where is Love? Photograph © Tamara Hanton

Having become resigned to live performance wearing the first-shut last-back mantle, the prospect of reviewing again after nearly six months was not on my radar when the opportunity arose the week of the show. And I admit that despite knowing all health directives were being adhered to, it took some mental readjusting to again feel at ease with the idea of sitting in a confined environment for an hour. It was, however, reassuring...