Photos: Baz Luhrmann's STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL Holds Splashy Launch in Sydney; Tickets on Sale August 12; Opens March 2014

Back in 2010, Baz Luhrmann told us that STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL was to be his return to the stage, and hopefully to Broadway as well. Today that hope has come one step closer to reality with the exciting official launch of the musical in Australia. The show's official Global Premiere will be at the Sydney Lyric from 25 March, 2014, with tickets on Sale 9am Monday 12 August.

With performance at the Sydney Lyric from March 2014, STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL will tango, sashay and bogo pogo its way onto the stage thanks to the original creative team behind the classic 1992 film, including director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann, set and costume designer Catherine Martin, choreographer John "Cha Cha" O'Connell and co-writer Craig Pearce.

"From a small student play to my first motion picture and now a full-blown theatrical stage musical, Strictly Ballroom has been an almost thirty year journey for me. I have often marvelled at how this story, born so long ago, has been in my life for so many years and has managed to touch, move, entertain and uplift so many different people from so many different backgrounds. I think the simple truth is that, despite all the sequins, outrageous hairdos and classic Hollywood musical plotting, the simple message that there isn't only one way to cha cha cha, and that within us all we have the true potential to dance through life with our own steps is something that appeals to all of us. The message that life doesn't have to be strictly ballroom is something I hope to have our audiences carry with them as they dance down the aisles." - Baz Luhrmann.

Carmen Pavlovic, CEO, Global Creatures said "Global Creatures creates productions at home to take to the world. There isn't a more perfect realisation of our ideals than to develop the world premiere season of STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL here in Sydney with the creative juggernaut that is Bazmark. Our company is underpinned by an ethos of innovation and whether its dinosaurs, dragons, gorillas or ballroom dancers the aim is always the same - to tell great stories in genre busting ways. I have no doubt that Baz Luhrmann will preserve all of the heart and universality that Strictly Ballroom is famous for whilst delivering to audiences something that has never been experienced before. It's a proud and thrilling collaboration for our company to be in partnership with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. We believe that Sydney is the rightful beginning for Strictly Ballroom's journey back to the stage and to ensure the international success and recognition it deserves."

George Souris, Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, said "The world premiere of STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL is one of the most anticipated entertainment events on the NSW Events Calendar. We are expecting enormous interest from Sydneysiders and interstate and international audiences who will no doubt flock to Sydney for this theatrical extravaganza when the show opens in March 2014. I commend Baz Luhrmann and producers Carmen Pavlovic and Gerry Ryan of Global Creatures on selecting our global events city ahead of New York and London as the location for the world premiere. This vote of confidence in Sydney reinforces our position as the number one city for first run musicals in Australia."

STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL is the inspiring story of a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules to follow his heart. This uplifting and courageous tale originated as a stage play that Baz Luhrmann devised with a group of students at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) back in 1984.

Following the first performances, Baz Luhrmann was invited to re-stage the play for the Czechoslovakian World Youth Drama Festival in Bratislava in 1986 where it won best production and Luhrmann best director. Then, after a preview season at the Brisbane Expo in 1988, the play opened at the Wharf Studios in Sydney.

Strictly Ballroom went on to become one of the most successful Australian films of all time, earning more than $80 million at the box office. Discovered at the Cannes Film Festival, it was winner of the Prix de Jeunnesse and runner up for the Palme D'Or. When released in Australia, Strictly Ballroomswept the field at the 1992 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, gaining 13 nominations and winning in eight major categories. It was also a major success at the 1993 BAFTA awards, where it garnered eight nominations and won three awards for Best Costume Design, Best Original Film Score and Best Production Design. Other accolades included a 1994 Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture, Newcomer of the Year at the 1993 London Critics Circle Film Awards, the People's Choice at the 1992 Toronto International Film Festival and Most Popular Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival. With the success of the film, its closing song, a remake of the John Paul Young song Love is in the Air, re-entered the Australian charts and became a Top 5 hit in October 1992.

In a brand new theatrical production, STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL will bring this iconic story to life on stage. It will feature break-into-song numbers created from original classics from the film, Love is in the Air,Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps, and Time After Time as well as newly composed songs.

STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL will be produced in Australia by Global Creatures and Bazmark together with the support of Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency and the City of Sydney. An announcement of cast and the rest of the creative team will be made in the near future.

For tickets and more information, visit www.strictlyballroomthemusical.com

Photo credit James Morgan / GLOBAL CREATURES