Ross Stretton - Artistic Director 1997-2002

Artistic Director 1997-2002

Stretton started his new career as a regisseur with the ABT combining administrative duties along with responsibilities for casting, teaching and coaching. In 1993, he was promoted to an assistant director position.

He returned to the Australian Ballet in 1997 as successor to Maina Gielgud. Stretton brought new works into the company's repertoire from a range of choreographers including Twyla Tharp. He also commissioned collaborations with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Bangarra Dance Theatre. Rites, choreographed by Stephen Page in 1997, featured dancers from the indigenous Bangarra company along with dancers from the Australian ballet.

In 1999, Stretton took the Australian Ballet on a US tour featuring Australian dance works not previously seen in North America. The New York Times described it as a "company reborn" based on that tour. On Stretton's death, David McAllister, his successor as artistic director, stated Stretton "brought the company bounding into the 21st century."

During his tenure at the Australian Ballet, his catchphrase was "creativity, energy and passion". He had the reputation of being a demanding artistic director and was known for having a short temper which meant that he often did not have good relations with his dancers.

Stretton's success with the Australian Ballet led to an offer to take over as artistic director at the Royal Ballet with the intention of bringing new works to the company. His first and only season at the Royal Ballet was criticised with the Daily Telegraph's ballet critic describing it as feeble. In particular, the productions of Don Quixote and Sleeping Beauty were strongly criticised, as was his staging of a Gala for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Productions of Carmen, choreographed by Mats Ek, John Cranko's Onegin, and Tryst, a new work by Christopher Wheeldon, received more favourable reviews.