“I really believe dance transcends age and is a universal language,” says Alice Tapp, Resident Choreographer at The Australian Ballet. And there is no better example of that  philosophy put into practice than her work Paragon, one of the two distinct performances that make up Identity. Paragon is a celebration of The Australian Ballet’s diamond anniversary captured in dance and images and featuring of some of the most outstanding talent from that history.

Joining current company performers on stage for this groundbreaking work are what Topp describes as ‘ballet royalty’ – former dancers from the company now not only celebrating its past but helping write the next chapter in its history.

It is another milestone in Topp’s evolving career which has see her go from dancer with first the Royal New Zealand Ballet and then The Australian Ballet in 2007, before increasingly developing snd showcasing her talent for choreography.

Nominated for a Green Room Award for her work Little Atlas in 2017 and two Australian dance Awards – for Same Vein, 2014 and Trace, 2010 – Top was appointed one of The Australian Ballet’s resident choreographers in 2018. 

In 2019 she won the Helpmann Award for Best Ballet for her work Aurum, which was created with the support of a Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance and had its world premiere as part of The Australian Ballet’s Verve program. 

Paragon constitutes something very special for Topp. She has called it ‘a privilege , honour and joy to be making art with my heroes’.

“It’s really exciting to go back through the archives and the history books and see where we’ve come from, where we are today and where we’re headed,” she says.

“I’d like to think that everyone can connect with this work,” she says of Paragon. “Whether you’re familiar with the company or not, I’d like to think that this piece will reach out to everyone and that everyone will be able to feel a sense of pride about our national company.”