3 months ago
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Queensland Ballet dancers have made an extraordinary on-stage appeal to the federal government for more funding for their cash-strapped company.
At the opening night curtain call of The Nutcracker, soloist Georgia Swan asked the audience to sign a petition calling on the federal House of Representatives to increase ballet’s funding in line with other major Australian performing arts companies.
“Despite over 60 years of success and the tireless efforts of our leadership team, we remain significantly underfunded compared to our industry peers,” Swan said, backed by the company’s dancers on the Lyric Theatre stage at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
In 2026, only two Queensland Ballet dancers will earn above the average wage, and 12 will be on the minimum wage.Credit: Angharad Gladding
“This company is my family, and I am truly terrified about what may happen for us, and for Queensland, if we can’t secure a better funding outcome,” she said.
Principal dancer Lucy Green told this masthead the dancers were speaking out after Queensland Ballet’s leadership team unsuccessfully made their case to the government.
“We feel that it’s our turn to step up and amplify our voices. We just want to push for what we feel Queensland Ballet deserves,” she said.
Joshua Ostermann and Lucy Green as the lead flower couple in The Nutcracker. Credit: David Kelly
In 2025, the company received $873,440 in federal funding, in contrast to The Australian Ballet’s $7 million.
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, which accompanies Queensland Ballet’s performances, received $9.1 million.
In 2024, the Queensland government gave Queensland Ballet $3,321,000 through an arts grant, and a further $1,238,000 came from the state through departments including health and education.
However, with the deaths of some significant donors, the company still posted a $9.4 million loss.
Eight dancers were among 27 employees made redundant, and Queensland Ballet management has not ruled out further redundancies.
Swan said dancers’ salaries had fallen 6.8 per cent behind CPI since 2020, and only two dancers will earn above the national average wage in 2026.
“Our 12 youngest dancers will be on the minimum wage,” she said.
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“We are often compared to elite athletes, and it is true we have both the rigorous training schedule and the fleeting career – but not the salary.”
Green, who is sharing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, said she hoped to get at least 20,000 signatures on the petition, which is tagged #ParityIsThePointe.
“I do feel like our peers in Sydney and Melbourne are much more acknowledged by the federal government,” she said.
“Queensland deserves better.”
Artistic director Ivan Gil-Ortega said he wasn’t involved in the petition but believed the dancers just wanted to be treated equally.
“They have a voice, and they used it. I think it’s important that the arts have a voice,” he said.
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