SQUANDER & GLORY, The Australian Ballet

Exciting times! In March 2017, Keto made its stage debut with custom-made costumes for the premiere of Tim Harbour’s striking new work, Squander & Glory.

Harbour envisioned a dynamic piece that harnessed the excess energy we all contain, and the dancers of The Australian Ballet brought this vision to life with movement that was both fluid and sharp. The choreography provided powerful moments for the female dancers, emphasizing both strength and sensitivity. The pacing of the work allowed for frenetic ensembles alongside mesmerizing pas de deux and pas de trois.

The creative team worked in perfect harmony with Harbour’s vision. Set designer Kelvin Ho crafted an elemental sculpture that hung behind a giant two-way mirror, constantly shifting in appearance due to Benjamin Cisterne’s lighting design. Rich tones, from warm copper to cool blue, altered the visual depth of the set, revealing and concealing the sculpture in a mesmerizing play of light. The eerie, energetic score, Weather One by Michael Gordon, heightened the atmosphere.

Keto’s costumes were designed to complement this aesthetic. Female dancers wore sleek, collared leotards printed with slices of black and copper, while the men’s black and beige printed tights created geometric patterns up close and smooth gradients in motion. The entire production danced on the boundary between the natural and the surreal, offering an overwhelming and visually arresting experience.

Squander & Glory was presented as part of a triple bill alongside Faster by David Bintley and Infra by Wayne McGregor—an unforgettable program for fans of contemporary ballet. It was an honor for Keto to be involved in such a visionary creation.

Photography by Jeff Busby.