Dancing With the Stars

May 2007

Dancing With the Stars

They won’t be doing the paso doble or the rumba – but they will be performing the world’s favourite ballet like you’ve never seen it before.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet are delighted to have four internationally acclaimed stars of the ballet world join the Company for its much-anticipated season of Swan Lake.

After achieving fame overseas, Lisa-Maree Cullum, Gaylene Cummerfield and Matthew Lawrence are returning home to guest star in Swan Lake - which opens in Wellington this month.

A former dancer with the English National Ballet and Berlin’s Deutsche Oper, former Aucklander Lisa-Maree Cullum – now with Bayerisches Staatsballett - has danced all over the world to rave reviews. She returns to New Zealand to dance the lead role of Odette / Odile in Swan Lake and will be partnered by Bayerisches Staatsballet principal dancer Roman Lazik.

Alternating the lead roles with Lisa-Maree and Roman will be Gaylene Cummerfield and Matthew Lawrence from The Australian Ballet – both of whom have a loyal following in the ballet world. In 1997 Gaylene was awarded first place at the Asian Pacific Ballet Competition in Japan. Matthew was awarded the Telstra Young Ballet Dancer of the Year award in 2003.

Having guest dancers with such impressive international experience and respect is a dream come true and unique opportunity for Kiwi audiences, says Artistic Director Gary Harris.

“Attracting dancers of their calibre to perform with the Royal New Zealand Ballet is a real coup,” Harris says. “They have all made waves on the international scene and to have them back here for our season of Swan Lake will ensure it’s a very special production that every New Zealander should see.”

Swan Lake opens in Wellington on Friday, 25 May.

ENDS

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