If Nina’s paranoid hallucinations are still giving you nightmares, don’t let Black Swan put you off ballet just yet.
 
Thanks to the amazingly talented crew at The Australian Ballet, you can be transported back to 1904 in Nagasaki, Japan to experience modern day love story Madame Butterfly.
 
And just like many modern love tales, there’s not always a Cinderella-esque ending. Young Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Madame Butterfly falls in love with Pinkerton, a Lieutenant in the US Navy, but his heart already belongs to another. Passion, lies and then the ultimate betrayal ensue.

Tonight’s show has an exciting addition, so we recommend you grab some tickets for this evening statim. Post performance, there’ll be a special 30-minute Q&A Session with The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister and the Madame Butterfly cast, which is free to anyone in tonight’s audience.
 
Now’s your opportunity to get a rare and unique insight into The Australian Ballet and their dancers. Ask about ballerinas, bandaged broken toes, and whether there really are Black Swan types in a dancer’s world.

The Australian Ballet – Madame Butterfly
Post Performance, Q&A Session Monday, 6.30pm 7 March 2011

The State Theatre, The Arts Centre,100 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3000
$38 (D Reserve) to $175 (Premium)