Choreographer
TIM HARBOUR
Australian choreographer Tim Harbour has been working professionally within Australia and internationally since 2008. His work, encompassing classical, contemporary and theatrical performances, has been praised for its dynamism, emotion and rich invention.
His choreography has received multiple nominations in the Australian Dance Awards, Helpmann Awards and Green Room Awards. Dance Australia Magazine has described Tim as ‘a truly original and creative Australian talent’. His works have been praised by critics and audiences around the world.
From 2014 to 2021, Tim was a Resident Choreographer with The Australian Ballet, creating celebrated works Squander and Glory and Filigree and Shadow, which have been performed throughout Australia and the U.S.A.
Tim has worked internationally and within Australia for companies including the Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet, Singapore Ballet, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Louisville Ballet, New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute and Morphoses – the Wheeldon Company. Tim’s work has been performed in London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, New York City’s The Joyce and City Center, as well as the Sydney Opera House and Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre. He has presented performances at the Melbourne International Festival and the Fall For Dance Festival NYC.
Tim joined the Australian Ballet as a dancer in 1995. He performed many soloist and principal roles, worked with Australian and international choreographers to create new work and toured all over the world. In 2007 he danced the role of Colas as a guest with the Royal Swedish Ballet in their production of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardée. He retired that year as a Senior Artist of the Australian Ballet. While still a dancer, Tim was nominated as Best Male dancer in both the Australian Dance Awards and Green Room Awards.
Tim’s first main stage work for The Australian Ballet was Halcyon in 2010. This was followed by Sweedeedee in 2012 for the Australian Ballet's 50th Anniversary celebrations.
In 2014, Tim was named a Resident Choreographer for The Australian Ballet. That year The Australian Ballet presented Tim’s Ostinato at the Fall For Dance Festival at City Center, New York City.
In 2015 Tim created Filigree and Shadow for the Australian Ballet. It was nominated for multiple Greenroom Awards, Australian Dance Awards and Helpmann Awards for categories including choreography, design, lighting, original score and best ensemble. The Houston Ballet staged it in 2018 and The Australian Ballet staged it again in 2018 and 2019.
In 2016 Tim created Another Energy for Singapore Ballet. That year he was also Choreographer in Residence for the RAD Geneé International Ballet Competition, held in Sydney, Australia.
In 2017 he made Squander and Glory for the Australian Ballet. They performed it over 30 times that year to resounding critical acclaim.
In 2018, Tim created LINEA ADORA for Singapore Ballet's 30th Anniversary. It went on to tour internationally and has been performed every year since.
Also in 2018, Tim choreographed the musical Josephine Wants to Dance for Monkey Baa Theatre Company. It toured regional Australia for 6 months and won the Theatre Critics Award for Best Children’s Show.
In 2019 Tim created Chairman Dances for the Australian Ballet, premiering it at the Joyce Theater, New York City. That year, he also made MODELS for the Louisville Ballet, Kentucky, USA.
In 2020, Tim created a second piece, Odyssey, for the Louisville Ballet.
In 2021 The Australian Ballet presented an excerpt of Filigree and Shadow for their Summertime Ballet performances. Later that year, Tim created Aurora for senior dancers of the Australian Ballet School.
In 2022, Tim created the 10 minute pas de deux In a Landscape for the Australian Ballet, based on the short story Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway. It toured regional Australia.
That same year he made his third piece for the Singapore Ballet, Protecting Veil.
In 2023 Tim has created a new dance film What Remains for retired Principal of the Australian Ballet, Kevin Jackson. The film examines what remains when an artist stops performing.