The Sleeping Beauty to open after three years’ prep, with exclusive Tamsin Cooper accessories
Ross Brown With three years’ planning, the Royal New Zealand Ballet will release its production of The Sleeping Beauty in October. The ballet features intricate choreography, distinctive costumes, and what the company describes as ‘spectacular’ sets. It is the RNZB’s grandest production to date. Stella Abrera plays the lead role of Aurora. […]
Stravinsky Selection shows Royal New Zealand Ballet’s breadth of skill
Ross Brown/Royal New Zealand Ballet Above Company artists Antonia Hewitt, Medhi Angot and Tonia Looker pose for this publicity shot for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Stravinsky Selection sees three ballets in a particularly rewarding package. If you wish to see a mixture of modern and traditional, if you like […]
An enjoyable night out with Tutus on Tour
Maarten Holl The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Tutus on Tour for 2011 had a very warm reception at the Opera House in Wellington last week, as it continues its tour of the country. The Christchurch leg has, sadly, been cancelled due to the national emergency, and the Wellington audience paid tribute to the victims […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet will take Tutus on Tour for 2011
Ross Brown The Royal New Zealand Ballet will travel the country on its two-yearly Tower Tutus on Tour. Between February and April, both cities and smaller towns around New Zealand will get to see dancers in smaller productions, including children’s ballet Pinocchio (choreographed by former dancer Toby Behan) and Verdi Variations (choreographed by ballet master […]
Adidas unveils spring ’11 TechFit, with help from the Staatsballett Berlin
Ballet must be in the Zeitgeist. Adidas has unveiled its spring–summer 2011 TechFit shoe collection with help from its local ballet, the Staatsballett Berlin, which features Adidas ambassador Alessandra Pasquali. The collection was unveiled at Berlin’s Stadtbad Oderberger with ballerinas from the Staatsballett. It had been developed with the Staatsballet, meeting the athletic […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet’s The Nutcracker a fresh, brilliant take
Maarten Holl The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a new take on the Tchaikovsky classic—set in a children’s hospital ward. Both fashion editor Sopheak Seng and I called it ‘brilliant’ when we chatted about it post-show: it really is a fresh and entertaining take that’s cleverly directed and choreographed. Coupled with the […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet gets reality TV series
Stephen A’Court The Royal New Zealand Ballet seems more in the Zeitgeist this year than any other we can remember—so much so that it’s getting its own reality TV series. The Secret Lives of Dancers, produced by Eyeworks, débuts on TV3 in New Zealand on August 31 at 8 p.m. The new series […]
Lady Gaga: from American Idol to ballet
Lady Gaga seems to be in the Zeitgeist this week. First, we receive word from Giorgio Armani that it has designed the singer’s outfit for American Idol. Not really a show we take in, and we noted the dramatic design from the Italian company: ‘Lady Gaga will wear a silk mesh bodysuit with embroidered Chantilly […]
Contemporary take for Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Carmen
Ross Brown The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Meridian Season of Carmen begins in Wellington in June, performed to the Georges Bizet score but with a modern-day Rio de Janeiro setting. Christchurch, New Zealand-born Pieter Simmons dances in the title role. Simmons is currently based in London, where she dances with the Rambert Dance Company. […]
Peering down intently to the subtly lit stage, my eyes transfixed, my back upright and tilted forward so not to miss a moment of the serene beauty and grace of French ballerina Sylvie Guillem gliding fluidly across the stage with such effortlessness. The air still, I am hypnotized by the meditative atmosphere created by the Spanish guitar music and I […]
