Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Fantasy Year

January 2009

Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Fantasy Year

The Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2009 will be filled with flying, fairies and fantastical imagination.

After the red-hot passion in 2008, this year’s programming invites patrons to lose themselves in some of ballet’s best romantic stories and engaging characters.

After the 47-centre TOWER Tutus on Tour, which opens in Wellington on February 26, the RNZB presents one of the most romantic ballets with the Meridian Season of La Sylphide. Featuring witches, fairy-like sylphs and stunning sets from The Australian Ballet, La Sylphide will be a visual treat.

Peter Pan finishes the year in family-friendly style with the return of Peter Pan, Wendy and the Darling children, ferocious Hook and his gang of pirates, and the feisty fairy Tinkerbell.

It wasn’t just the programming that was red-hot for the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2008 – rave reviews began with the TOWER Season of RED triple bill. The New Zealand Herald described it as “hypnotic”, while The Dominion Post wrote, “this triple bill is a winner”.

The world’s most famous star-crossed lovers then took to the stage in Christopher Hampson’s Romeo & Juliet in July and August.

The show was sold out on more than one night and reviewers fell in love with the season. The Wellingtonian said it was “danced by a company at its peak” while Theatreview called it “opulence, decadence, action, and a whiff of Armani.”

In October audiences were spirited away to sunny Spain with the Meridian Season of Don Quixote, a world premiere production celebrating Sir Jon Trimmer’s 50 years of performing with the RNZB.

With Sir Jon playing “The Don”, The Listener wrote, “Don Quixote is an endearing and fun-filled night that celebrates perfectly Trimmer’s unique gift to New Zealand ballet”.

The National Business Review said it was ``a gloriously effervescent ballet” while The New Zealand Herald described it as “just the scintillating, exhilarating, exuberant and gorgeous tonic anyone could need”.

ENDS

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