‘A constant battle’: Qld Ballet chief explains artistic director’s shock exit
By Nick Dent
As Queensland Ballet announced the return of productions of Romeo and Juliet and Dangerous Liaisons in its 2025 season, it’s clear that a love for ballet can itself be a dangerous liaison.
Executive director Dilshani Weerasinghe said that arts executives were “burning out”.
“CEOs, artistic directors and executive directors are either smoke-bombing out or leaving dramatically,” Weerasinghe said.
Queensland Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet returns in 2025.Credit: Queensland Ballet
“This is happening around the world, not just here in Australia, and I’m asking why.
“In the arts we often wear our struggles as badges of honour but the question remains: is this hustle taking a toll on our leaders and our organisations?”
Leanne Benjamin resigned from Queensland Ballet earlier this year and returned to the UK.Credit: Domenico Pugliese
Weerasinghe addressed the shock departure of the company’s artistic director, Leanne Benjamin, who resigned in August after less than six months in the role.
She said that Benjamin’s ideas to shake up the company had been at odds with the organisation’s budget and need for continuity.
“It surprised us how quickly [Benjamin] wanted to enact a vision,” she said.
“We thought we had had the [funding] conversation. Now, it’s really explicit.”
Acting Artistic Director Greg Horsman said the company was looking towards finding a “guardian” for Queensland Ballet’s past and future.
“It’s important the rich heritage we’ve built up is not discarded. Not just starting again is important,” he said.
Queensland Ballet executive director Dilshani Weerasinghe says the “hustle” is contributing to arts executives resigning.Credit: Nick Dent
While Horsman has put his hand up for the permanent role, Weerasinghe said that the company was “a couple of months away” from making its decision.
She said that funding the company, including the Queensland Ballet Academy, was “a constant struggle”.
Queensland Ballet’s 2023 annual report posted income of $27.2 million, of which $7 million came from government grants, $9.8 million from donations and sponsorship, and $10.3 million from ticket sales and other revenue.
She said that Queensland Ballet was “the least funded” state ballet company.
The company’s recent production Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon sold out and exceeded its target by about $250,000, she said.
The company has been soldiering on since the departure of its internationally renowned artistic director Li Cunxin, known as ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’, in 2023.
On his departure Li highlighted the lack of federal government funding for Queensland arts companies and labelled the current system “outdated”.
Under Li the company saw the complete renovation of its headquarters at the Thomas Dixon Centre in West End, with a theatre, rehearsal spaces, offices and hospitality zones.
A signature restaurant by celebrity chef Shane Delia will open there in 2025.