Royal New Zealand Ballet honours Sir Jon Trimmer

Royal New Zealand Ballet honours Sir Jon Trimmer this weekend

Media Release
September 2008

HE'S been leaping into the hearts of audiences for five decades.

Sir Jon Trimmer has been performing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet for a remarkable 50 years and to celebrate the RNZB and Governor General Hon Anand Satyanand will host a tribute afternoon tea for Sir Jon at Government House on Sunday September 28.

Sir Jon has been a mainstay of the RNZB since joining the company in 1958. Knighted for services to ballet in 1999, brief sojourns overseas have seen him dance in front of royalty and Hollywood stars including Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Te Papa will be gifted four of Sir Jon's costumes from past productions at the invitation-only event. The event will be one of the last to be held at Government House before it closes in October to prepare for a major three-year conservation project.

Sir Jon, who will star as "The Don" in the upcoming Meridian Season of Don Quixote, will speak about his career and there will also be a brief performance by the RNZB dancers. Other speakers will include RNZB artistic director Gary Harris and the Hon Winnie Laban.

The event starts at 2pm. Sir Jon will be available for media interviews before the event commences.

Media wanting to cover this event need to register in advance. Media are reminded that a reasonable standard of dress is expected at Government House

The Meridian Season of Don Quixote
31 October - 11 December 2008

ENDS

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