STAGE TUBE: Sneak Peek at Australian Ballet's 2014 Season

The Australian Ballet launched its 2014 season in Melbourne today at its Production Centre in Altona, recreating the magical moment from The Nutcrackerwhere Clara is transported to the Land of the Sweets by a giant flying goose! Check out a sneak peek below!

The Nutcracker is just one of the glorious productions featured in the 2014 season, alongside three more dazzling full-length ballets, a sophisticated classical double bill and a boundary-breaking contemporary triple bill.

Watch the 2014 season video on The Australian Ballet's YouTube channelhere.

To view the 2014 media kit, click here.

The Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister, said audiences were demanding more ballet than ever.

"Audiences are telling us that they want more ballet and more choice of productions, so that's what we're giving them in 2014! We've added even more repertoire into our Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne seasons to sate the public's appetite for ballet," said McAllister.

"It's also an opportunity to showcase the versatility and artistry of our dancers, who can't wait to sink their teeth into this season - with roles like Manon, Clara and Solor in the mix! And personally I'm delighted with the diversity and artistic depth of the 2014 program."

What's in store for the 2014 season:

• Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Manon
• Imperial Suite
• Chroma
• Bodytorque.DNA
• Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella
• Stanton Welch's La Bayadère
• Peter Wright's The Nutcracker

The Australian Ballet begins the year withManon, Sir Kenneth MacMillan's ballet that proves that all that glitters is not gold. Our naïve heroine goes from rags to riches and back again in visits to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

The classical double bill Imperial Suitecombines George Balanchines's Ballet Imperial with Serge Lifar's Suite en blanc; it's a cosmopolitan ballet tour to New York, Paris and Russia. This bill will be performed in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Chroma is the name of both the bill and one of its works: the premiere of Wayne McGregor's 2006 showstopper mixes ballet with The White Stripes for one intoxicating cocktail. Also on the bill is Ji?í Kylián's "Mozart double": Sechs Tänze andPetite Mort, and a brand new work by Resident Choreographer Stephen Baynes.

Bodytorque comes to Melbourne for the first time! The theme is DNA, and with dance in their genes, these new choreographers are sure to come up with something worth cloning.

Adelaide audiences will be whisked away to the ball under the spell of Alexei Ratmansky's magical full-lengthCinderella, its world premiere just two weeks away.

A new ballet by Resident Choreographer Stanton Welch is always something special, and his new La Bayadère will be no exception with its lavish Peter Farmer designs and exotic Indian setting.

Back by popular demand is Peter Wright'sThe Nutcracker. This candy-coated Christmas confection of a ballet will surprise and delight ballet fans of all ages.

Telstra will mark their 30 year partnership with The Australian Ballet in 2014 with a year of celebration, starting with the free outdoor concert Telstra Ballet in the Bowl taking place in Melbourne. This is just one of the activities planned to celebrate this milestone across Australia, with more to be announced in 2014.

The Dancers Company will tour regional areas in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. In its 35th outing, it presents a Classical Triple Bill featuring Paquita,Rimbombo and Swan Lake Act III.

Follow the 2014 season launch live onTwitter by following @TheAusBallet and using the hashtag #ausballet2014

Subscription packages for the 2014 season go on sale from 9am tomorrow. To book, visit australianballet.com.au or ring 1300 369 741.

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