Find out what’s happening in New Zealand dance news!
The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s (RNZB) popular Tutus on Tour returns in February 2025, marking the start of a brand-new year of exciting ballet. Dance lovers of all ages across the country will be able to experience two show-stopping classical duets plus stunning contemporary works brilliantly performed by the stars of the company. This highly anticipated annual tour sees the RNZB perform at a series of intimate local venues, giving ballet fans the opportunity to experience up close the exquisite costumes and world-class ballet technique of the company’s leading dancers.
Tutus on Tour 2025 will include two stunning pas de deux: the elegant and sophisticated Grand Pas Classique, and the charming Wedding pas de deux from Act III of Coppélia. Each performance will also include the exciting stage premiere of Limerence, a work for four dancers to music by Schubert, by former RNZB dancer Annaliese Macdonald. Limerence was originally created for the Ballet Bites digital season in 2022, and has now been re-worked for live performances. Completing the lineup will be The Way Alone, a neoclassical work by Australian choreographer Stephen Baynes to music by Tchaikovsky, created for Hong Kong Ballet in 2006, and now seen in New Zealand for the first time.
“Tutus on Tour represents Royal New Zealand Ballet’s continued commitment, as we have done throughout our 72-year history, to bring ballet to the people of New Zealand,” says RNZB Artistic Director Ty King-Wall. “It is a wonderful opportunity for us as a company to connect with our regional audiences, and to experience firsthand the awe-inspiring landscapes of this country. We cannot wait to hit the road once more for Tutus on Tour 2025!” Tickets are now on sale here.
Footnote New Zealand Dance launches its 2025 programme. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Footnote and is shaping up to be an exciting year for the company. As the company embarks on this exciting journey, Footnote invites audiences to experience the transformative impact of contemporary dance. Footnote stands as a pillar within the creative landscape of Aotearoa. The company is proud to advocate for dancers and choreographers, and is committed to building on this foundational value to expand the reach of contemporary dance across the country. This year, Footnote is thrilled to announce a programme to inspire audiences and foster artistic collaboration. The season will include the high-powered MODERN GOD, a work straddling the realms of contemporary dance and physical theatre; Kota Yamazaki’s Thin Paper, Autonomous Synapse, Nomads, Tokyo(ing); national tours in February/March and also in July; choreographic residencies for four New Zealand choreographers; the development of a major new work; and more. For more information, visit www.footnote.org.nz/news/2025-programme.
The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) is very proud to have two 2nd-year students who are participating in the 2025 edition of the Prix de Lausanne, from 2 – 9 February 2025, at the Beaulieu Theatre in Lausanne, Switzerland. Hui Ho Yin will compete in the international competition, while Stella Clarkson will participate in the Prix’s Partner School Choreographic Project.
The NZSD Performance Season, which ran 20 – 30 November, is always a highlight of the School calendar and a showcase of the extraordinary dedication and passion the students apply to their training throughout the year. Students from both the classical ballet and contemporary dance streams showcased their talent in a series of performances, allowing audiences of family, friends, supporters and dance enthusiasts the opportunity to see the rising talent of the future. This eclectic programme featured a bold selection of works showcasing the technical prowess and artistry of the School’s students. This season celebrated the breadth of the art form, and highlighted the next generation of choreographic voices in a series of new works while paying homage to the timeless foundations of classical ballet.
The NZSD Summer Intensive is now open for registrations. This esteemed course runs from 21 – 24 January 2025. Classes are specialised in a student’s preferred dance form, and dancers will choose to join either the contemporary dance or classical ballet classes. The intensive includes daily technique and repertoire classes and are taught by NZSD faculty and both classical and contemporary guest tutors. Daily complementary classes are designed to develop technical and creative aspects of dance for classical ballet and contemporary dance. For more information and to book, visit www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz/courses/summer-intensive.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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