Royal New Zealand Ballet
Encyclopedia
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is based in Wellington
, New Zealand.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) is a company of 32 dynamic dancers, performing an eclectic repertoire of outstanding dance, for national and international audiences, whilst continuing to build a style that is ultimately unique to the Company and Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The demands of the RNZB's audience, particularly within New Zealand, mean that they present an eclectic repertoire of choreographic styles, from 19th century classics to 21st century contemporary works. The RNZB's aim is to present dance of outstanding quality.
The RNZB attracts New Zealand and international dancers, choreographers and designers who nurture and grow a company of international acclaim.
The RNZB have a unique reputation, and are internationally acknowledged for pushing the boundaries, stretching the limits, and taking the art of classical ballet forward.
In 2010 the Royal New Zealand Ballet was the featured ballet company in the TV3 series The Secret Lives of Dancers.
Principal Poul Gnatt, Beryl Nettleton, Bettina Edwards, another female dancer, and pianist Dorothea Franchi.
In the late 1950s notable New Zealand dancers, Rowena Jackson
and Philip Chatfield, her English dancer husband, returned from overseas to join the company. A third returning dancer, Russell Kerr
, who had been since 1950 dancing in Europe with the Jose Greco Company, Sadlers Wells Ballet and Ballet Rambert, and from 1952–57 with London Festival Ballet as their principal character dancer. In 1959 Kerr joined forces with NZ Ballet director Paul Gnatt, bringing with him a number of dancers from his own company, Auckland Ballet Theatre for the 1959–60 season. As United Ballet, the augmented company presented a ground-breaking season which prefigured the things to come – included amongst the classical works was a major contemporary work, "Prismatic Variations, a collaborative piece between Gnatt and Kerr, with guest artists the celebrated New Zealand dancers Rowena Jackson
and Sara Neil
.
In 1962 Jon Trimmer
returned to the company after studying at the Royal Ballet School
in London and performing with the Sadlers Wells Company
. He remains a leading artist with the company in 2007 performing many character roles over the last 20 years. Russell Kerr succeeded Gnatt as company director from 1962–69.
In the 1960s and 70s the company survived by touring extensively throughout the country and has been directly funded by the New Zealand government since 1998.
In 1984 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II granted the title Royal to the company making it the fourth ballet company to receive this honour, along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet
and Royal Winnipeg Ballet
.
In 2006 the company had 32 dancers, and performed nationally and overseas.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) is a company of 32 dynamic dancers, performing an eclectic repertoire of outstanding dance, for national and international audiences, whilst continuing to build a style that is ultimately unique to the Company and Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The demands of the RNZB's audience, particularly within New Zealand, mean that they present an eclectic repertoire of choreographic styles, from 19th century classics to 21st century contemporary works. The RNZB's aim is to present dance of outstanding quality.
The RNZB attracts New Zealand and international dancers, choreographers and designers who nurture and grow a company of international acclaim.
The RNZB have a unique reputation, and are internationally acknowledged for pushing the boundaries, stretching the limits, and taking the art of classical ballet forward.
In 2010 the Royal New Zealand Ballet was the featured ballet company in the TV3 series The Secret Lives of Dancers.
History
New Zealand Ballet was established in 1953 as an independent charitable trust by Royal Danish BalletRoyal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
Principal Poul Gnatt, Beryl Nettleton, Bettina Edwards, another female dancer, and pianist Dorothea Franchi.
In the late 1950s notable New Zealand dancers, Rowena Jackson
Rowena Jackson
Rowena Othlie Jackson MBE is a New Zealand prima ballerina. Jackson was born in Invercargill, to William Ernest Jackson and Lilliane Jane, née Solomon. She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School, in Auckland, and in 1941 won the first Royal Academy of Dancing Scholarship in New Zealand. In 1946 ...
and Philip Chatfield, her English dancer husband, returned from overseas to join the company. A third returning dancer, Russell Kerr
Russell Kerr
Russell Whiston Kerr was a British Labour Party politician.Kerr was educated at the Shore School, Sydney, Sydney Church of England Grammar School and Sydney University. He served with the Pathfinder Force of the Royal Air Force during World War II. He became a director of the Town and Country...
, who had been since 1950 dancing in Europe with the Jose Greco Company, Sadlers Wells Ballet and Ballet Rambert, and from 1952–57 with London Festival Ballet as their principal character dancer. In 1959 Kerr joined forces with NZ Ballet director Paul Gnatt, bringing with him a number of dancers from his own company, Auckland Ballet Theatre for the 1959–60 season. As United Ballet, the augmented company presented a ground-breaking season which prefigured the things to come – included amongst the classical works was a major contemporary work, "Prismatic Variations, a collaborative piece between Gnatt and Kerr, with guest artists the celebrated New Zealand dancers Rowena Jackson
Rowena Jackson
Rowena Othlie Jackson MBE is a New Zealand prima ballerina. Jackson was born in Invercargill, to William Ernest Jackson and Lilliane Jane, née Solomon. She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School, in Auckland, and in 1941 won the first Royal Academy of Dancing Scholarship in New Zealand. In 1946 ...
and Sara Neil
Sara Neil
Sara Louise Neil is a Canadian retired road bicycle racer, who won the bronze medal in the women's individual road race at the 1987 Pan American Games. A resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, she represented Canada at the same event at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in 39th place. She has...
.
In 1962 Jon Trimmer
Jon Trimmer
Sir Jon Charles Trimmer, KNZM, MBE is a New Zealand ballet dancer who has been with the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958-59 and 1970 to the present .-Early life:Trimmer was born on 18 September 1939 in Petone, New Zealand...
returned to the company after studying at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
in London and performing with the Sadlers Wells Company
Royal Ballet, London
The Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
. He remains a leading artist with the company in 2007 performing many character roles over the last 20 years. Russell Kerr succeeded Gnatt as company director from 1962–69.
In the 1960s and 70s the company survived by touring extensively throughout the country and has been directly funded by the New Zealand government since 1998.
In 1984 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II granted the title Royal to the company making it the fourth ballet company to receive this honour, along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
and Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
.
In 2006 the company had 32 dancers, and performed nationally and overseas.
Dancers
- Abigail Boyle
- Adriana Harper
- Alayna Ng
- Antonia Hewitt
- Brendan Bradshaw
- Bronte Kelly
- Cassandra Wilson
- Christopher Hinton-Lewis
- Clytie Campbell
- Daniel Morrison
- Dimitri Kleioris
- Eliza Jost
- Ginny Gan
- Harry Skinner
- Helio Lima
- Jacob Chown
- Jaered Glavin
- Sir Jon Trimmer
- Joseph Skelton
- Katherine Grange
- Kohei Iwamoto
- Loughlan Prior
- Lucy Balfour
- Lucy Green
- Maree White
- Medhi Angot
- Paul Mathews
- Pierre Doncq
- Qi Huan
- Rory Fairweather-Neylan
- Sara Havener
- Tonia Looker
- Yang Liu
External links
- Ballet.co Magazine Article on the company