With a première in Wellington on May 31, and other centres through June and July, the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Dancing with Mozart features George Balanchine’s Divertimento 15, and Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort and Sechs Tänze. Corey Baker’s The Last Dance, the first ballet created in Antarctica, will also feature as part of Dancing with […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet successfully brings The Piano to life on stage
Stephen A’Court Changing performance mediums is never an easy task: it’s why some fans of books bemoan film adaptations, and why the thought of certain films as Broadway musicals is so hard to entertain—but what about an Academy Award- and Palme d’Or-winning film as a ballet? The Piano is an inspired source material, and […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet’s highly anticipated The Piano: the Ballet premières February 23
Ross Brown/RNZB Above: Abigail Boyle as Ada in The Piano: the Ballet. Arguably the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s most anticipated production of the year, The Piano: the Ballet, will have its world première in Wellington on February 23, presented in association with the New Zealand Festival and the Auckland Arts’ Festival. Inspired by the […]
The grandest graduation programme yet: New Zealand School of Dance celebrates 50 years
Stephen A’Court Above: Hosanna Ball and Saul Newport. The New Zealand School of Dance has traditionally held a highly regarded graduation programme, and this year’s was the grandest we’ve seen, with the school celebrating its 50th anniversary. Held at the St James Theatre, opening night saw Governor-General HE Dame Patsy Reddy attend, along with […]
Ross Brown Above: The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Abigail Boyle. The Royal New Zealand Ballet has announced its 2018 programme, under new artistic director Patricia Barker, with four notable highlights. The Piano: the Ballet is a full-length work inspired by Jane Campion’s award-winning film, using excerpts from the original score by Michael Nyman, and created […]
The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s grandest yet: Romeo & Juliet shoots for the stars with spectacle
Top photo: Stephen A’Court; above: Ross Brown Since announcing he would be leaving the Royal New Zealand Ballet as its artistic director in November 2016, it became evident that Romeo & Juliet, the new ballet that had its world première in Wellington tonight, would be Francesco Ventriglia’s love letter to the company. It takes all […]
Royal New Zealand Ballet promises an ‘epic’ production with Romeo and Juliet, opening August 16
Ross Brown The most anticipated ballet of the year in New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet, set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev and choreographed by the company’s outgoing artistic director, Francesco Ventriglia, has its world première on August 16 in Wellington. The sets and costumes have been designed […]
Andrei; modelled by Henry Humphreys, hair by Lauren Gunn/Colleen, make-up by Lochie Stonehouse/MAC Cosmetics Deadly Ponies Man has launched its latest collection for 2017, inspired by the ocean, using Ink bovine leather and shearling, and brass highlights. It’s meant to convey the idea of a ‘moody seascape’ and an ‘intrepid voyager’, which the promotional images […]
Three by Ekman: the Royal New Zealand Ballet shows its witty, ingenious side
Stephen A’Court Swedish-born choreographer–director Alexander Ekman, it transpires, was the first person Francesco Ventriglia called when he was first appointed artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Ekman, says Ventriglia, creates choreography that is ‘different, brave, intelligent, witty and fun,’ and he sees the work as being the equivalent of ‘good food’ for the […]
A grand Petit double bill: Royal New Zealand Ballet performs Carmen and L’Arlésienne
Stephen A’Court Above, from top: Joseph Skelton as Don José and Natalya Kusch as Carmen in Carmen. Yuri Marques, with Shaun James Kelly as Frédêric and Madeleine Graham as Vivette in L’Arlésienne. Madeleine Graham as Vivette and Shaun James Kelly as Frédêri in L’Arlésienne. What a treat to see two of Roland Petit’s ballets—L’Arlésienne and Carmen—performed […]
