News from the Australian Ballet:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Justine Summers, for 11 years the most beautiful face of the Australian Ballet, has resigned as a principal of the company. <BR>The 30-year-old blonde dancer will now be free to spend more time with her new partner, Gold Coast-based Michael Edgley, 56, the entrepreneur who once toured the Bolshoi Ballet, and is soon to redevelop Luna Park into a theatre and circus venue. <BR>Ms Summers's departure will bring the ranks of Australian Ballet principals to six when another principal dancer, David McAllister, becomes artistic director of the company as early as July next year. At that time, incumbent director Mr Ross Stretton is likely to move to the Royal Ballet in London. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR><A HREF="http://www.smh.com.au/news/0010/10/text/national21.html" TARGET=_blank><B>Now read on</B></A> <BR>

Justine isn't the only one to leave AB. Kirsty Martin is also leaving, as is Geon van der Wyst. And I've heard there is a 4th dancer leaving. Geon van der Wyst is taking up a position with the National Ballet of Canada and the others seem to be taking a welcome break. The media here (in Australia) is describing the resignations as an exodus. I wonder if it isn't simply a matter of the dancers finally plucking up the courage to move on, just as Ross Stretton is doing and others before them. Sometimes we need a change inflicted on us to actually make change in our own lives. <P>Word has it that Stretton is not satisfying the dancers' needs, hence their departures, but who knows. No director can please everyone all of the time can they?

'Summers star shines one last time.' Justine Summers of the Australian Ballet bows out. Valerie Lawson reports for the Sydney Morning Herald. The photo link is um.....interesting:<P> <A HREF="http://www.smh.com.au/news/0012/21/text/national6.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.smh.com.au/news/0012/21/text/national6.html</A>

yes; she certainly is very popular in Melbourne! I had her as a guest teacher at a summer school last year, and remember the regular teacher was head over heels(toes!) for her!<BR>And as for the picture... some of the photos from "tutu" are displayed in the melbourne concert hall. <P>"In August, after rehearsing Bella Figura, which calls for the women to be topless, she decided she did not want to appear in the ballet after all, although in 1999 she had posed for photographer Greg Barrett's book of nearly nude dancers, Tutu. "<BR>-well I guess you could argue that nudity live is a COMPLETELY different thing... (or is it?????)<BR>I remember reading an article explaining her resignation; she supposedly was not cast in much at all under stretton's direction, and therefore felt it was time to leave. <BR>(But then again, why would she resign if Stretton is also going?? )