An inspiring memoir from one of Australia’s ballet greats on finding himself, onstage and off

From the backblocks of Perth to international stardom, this is a story of courage to fight against the odds for your passion and succeed.

David McAllister has always belonged onstage. As the middle child in a Catholic family who knew nothing about dance, he watched himself twirl in the reflective glass of the TV and dreamed about becoming the next Rudolf Nureyev. As a little boy taking ballet lessons, he was mercilessly bullied. As a young man joining the ranks of The Australian Ballet, he worried that he would never play the prince because he lacked the height and lean limbs of a classical dancer. Every time he heard ‘no’, he simply did what he loved – danced.

Sure enough, curtains rose for the unlikely prince: he represented Australia on the world stage; he became a principal dancer and performed his dream roles; he fell in love, onstage and off; and he enjoyed a twenty-year tenure as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, transforming it into one of the top flagship dance companies in the world.

"In Conversation" with Corrie Perkin about "Australia at the Venice Biennale: A Century of Contemporary Art".

With works from Sidney Nolan, Howard Arkley and more, this richly illustrated work illuminates the untold stories and origins of the most important event of the art world

Before the winds of World War I blew Europe apart, a rowdy and radical group of Australian artists would gather in the salons of Paris and London to embrace new ways of painting and seeing the world. By 1914 twelve of them had shown their works at the Venice International Exhibition, now known as the Venice Biennale. Bundled in with the British, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Thea Proctor were represented alongside legendary artists Corot, Rodin, Klimt and Renoir.

Four decades later Australia sent its first official delegation of artists- Sidney Nolan, Russell Drysdale and William Dobell; the works of Rover Thomas, Howard Arkley, Patricia Piccinini and Shaun Gladwell continued the story of bold Australian art in Venice.

With the support of the Australian art community, the Venice Biennale today remains an aspiration and career highlight for contemporary artists and Australia's love affair with the exhibition thrives. Discover the untold stories of the world's most important art event through one hundred years of Australian modern art.