Woodside lifts WA Ballet commitment

Woodside Energy has ramped up its commitment to the West Australian Ballet by becoming the organisation's first ever principal partner.

The announcement is below:

Today West Australian Ballet entered a new era with the announcement that the Company and Woodside Energy have agreed to enter into a sponsorship agreement under which Woodside Energy would become its first ever Principal Partner.

Beginning in 2010, the two companies intend to embark on an 'energy inspired' journey that will enable West Australian Ballet to continue to build on its new business platform. This repertoire led strategy sees the Company growing to enable world-class ballet to be produced in Western Australia.

Woodside has been a Major Sponsor of West Australian Ballet for the past two years, supporting the important Young Artist Program that Artistic Director Ivan Cavallari initiated in 2008. The synergies and personalities of the two Companies eventually led to further discussions of how the sponsorship might evolve, and ultimately the proposal for this new Principal Partnership.

West Australian Ballet General Manager, Steven Roth said, "We couldn't be happier for Woodside to be our first Principal Partner. There are many similarities between our two companies and our brands; both strive for excellence and to be leaders in our respective fields. Woodside's new brand, symbolising a flame and representing the energy it produces, is not unlike our brand symbol, which represents the energy created by dancers' movement through space."

Woodside Executive Vice President Rob Cole agreed the two organisations shared many characteristics.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to be the first Principal Partner. We are both fiercely proud West Australian organisations, focused on excellence and being leaders in our field, " he said.

Mr Cole said that, in many ways, the relationship between Woodside and West Australian Ballet was a natural fit: "While our two companies are based in Perth, we see ourselves as making significant regional, national and global contributions in our fields.

"There are also great similarities between our people - they are all passionate and dedicated professionals. Our employees in the North West particularly welcome and anticipate the Ballet's visits to the Pilbara."

Mr Cole said Woodside's social investment program was focused on enhancing the health and vibrancy of the communities in which the company operated and its employees and their families lived.

West Australian Ballet is Australia's oldest ballet company, established just two years before Woodside in 1952, and next year it celebrates 40 years as the State Ballet Company, just one year (1970) before Woodside made its first big discovery of gas off Western Australia.

Mr Roth thanked Woodside for supporting West Australian Ballet - saying this new level of engagement would enable the Company to continue to grow and extend its repertoire for all Western Australians.