LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2014

Photo: Henry V - Bell Shakespeare, Michele Mossop

Ballet and DanceClick for more info

The Ballet and Dance category experienced a significant decrease in both gross revenue and attendance in 2014. Gross revenue decreased by 16% from $62.83 million in 2013 to $52.77 million in 2014, the lowest result since 2009. Total attendances also decreased by 21.3% over the same time frame. In contrast, the average ticket price increased by 8.2% from $74.69 to $80.82, which explains why the percentage decrease in attendances exceeded the decline in revenue.

Major performances in the Ballet and Dance category in 2014 included a national tour of Shadowland, the American Ballet Theatre’s season in Queensland which included performances of Swan Lake and Three Masterpieces and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake performed in Melbourne and Sydney. Other performances in this category included Red Bull Flying Bach and Shen Yun. In particular, performances of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake in Victoria contributed to revenue gains in that state.

However, a number of popular international performances that occurred in 2013 did not return to Australia in 2014, including Ballet Revolución, Stomp and Blaze, along with tours by the Paris Opera Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. This helps to explain the decline in revenue and attendances.

In contrast, the AMPAG companies experienced moderate growth in 2014, with local productions accounting for the majority of gross revenue in this event category. Major companies within this group included The Australian Ballet, The Queensland Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre and West Australian Ballet.

Close Table

Ballet and Dance - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2014)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $30,664,060 682,755 $50.07
2005 $44,563,085 45.3% 930,639 36.3% $52.76 5.4%
2006 $52,523,644 17.9% 1,113,849 19.7% $50.52 -4.2%
2007 $77,287,071 47.1% 1,457,306 30.8% $57.39 13.6%
2008 $47,051,946 -39.1% 934,533 -35.9% $60.67 5.7%
2009 $58,570,704 24.5% 1,050,763 12.4% $63.33 4.4%
2010 $57,509,401 -1.8% 1,023,077 -2.6% $64.86 2.4%
2011 $59,164,135 2.9% 947,846 -7.4% $71.93 10.9%
2012 $57,865,897 -2.2% 920,193 -2.9% $77.93 8.3%
2013 $62,832,992 8.6% 976,336 6.1% $74.69 -4.2%
2014 $52,771,905 -16.0% 767,890 -21.3% $80.82 8.2%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

** Average Ticket Prices are calculated based only on paid tickets

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Ballet and Dance - Revenue by State/Territory (2014)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013 Attendance Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013
NSW $17,870,525 33.9% -4.0% 211,842 27.6% -2.4%
VIC $16,056,666 30.4% 5.7% 215,721 28.1% 4.4%
QLD $10,263,143 19.4% -1.0% 180,925 23.6% 3.0%
WA $5,112,304 9.7% -0.8% 102,368 13.3% 1.6%
SA $2,264,949 4.3% 0.4% 31,265 4.1% 0.9%
ACT $802,842 1.5% -0.5% 15,143 2.0% -7.3%
TAS $143,445 0.3% 0.2% 2,828 0.4% 0.1%
NT $258,031 0.5% -0.1% 7,798 1.0% -0.2%

Photo: Do We: New Breed - Sydney Dance Company, Peter Greig

Individual Category Results