Sylvie Guillem Set for Q&A at Sydney Opera House

Before the curtain falls on her final ever performance in Australia, one of the world's greatest dancers, Sylvie Guillem, will take to the stage for a free talk and audience Q&A at the Sydney Opera House.

Sylvie Guillem - In Conversation with Caroline Baum, A Life in Progress will be held on Sunday 23 August in the Drama Theatre. The event is free, however registration is essential due to limited capacity. General public registration opens at 9am on Thursday 13 August, via the website.

Guillem will discuss her unparalleled 35-year ballet and contemporary dance career, impending retirement and farewell dance programme, Life in Progress.

Beginning her career with the Paris Opera Ballet in 1981, Guillem was the youngest ever dancer promoted to the highest rank by Rudolf Nureyev at the age of 19. In 1989 Sylvie left Paris for London to become a Principal Guest Artist at The Royal Ballet, a defection that was declared a "national catastrophe" by the arts minister. Guillem went on to become an international ballet superstar. She has danced all the leading roles of classical ballet with the world's foremost companies, including The Royal Ballet, the Mariinsky, American Ballet Theatre and La Scala. Since 2006 Sylvie Guillem has had an equally successful career as an independent contemporary dancer as an Associate Artist of the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

Guillem will perform six shows only of Life in Progress at the Sydney Opera House from August 19 - 25, a new production that includes two brand new works from Akram Khan and Russell Maliphant. This will be the last chance for audiences to see this incomparable artist perform in Australia.

Life in Progress is a Sadler's Wells London Production, co-produced with Les Nuits de Fourvière, China Shanghai International Arts Festival and Sylvie Guillem.