Tiki-touring tutus
The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s much-loved tiki-touring institution is on the road.
From Wainuiomata to Waipukurau, Westport to Whakatane, New Zealand Post Tutus on Tour takes ballet to 49 centres off the
beaten track during February and March.
“Live and local, we’re presenting a selection of classical and contemporary dance, right on your doorstep. Diverse dance
styles means there’s something for everyone to enjoy,” says Artistic Director Gary Harris.
“The line-up has a strong Kiwi accent,” he says.
“The company will showcase the talents of New Zealand choreographers Shona McCullagh and Turid Revfeim, local designer
Elizabeth Whiting and composers Jonathan Besser and John Ritchie.”
Planning the tour is a performance in itself. From selling the show to local presenters, to confirming venue details and
booking accommodation, the demanding itinerary is two years in the making.
“In order to tour the North Island and South Island simultaneously, the company of 32 dancers will be split down the
middle. One group will tour the community theatres, school halls and basketball courts of the North Island, one the
South,” says Harris.
Each contingent travels by bus and packs a five tonne truck with up to four costume changes for each dancer, hundreds of
pointe shoes, 40 metres of ballet shoe ribbon, 120 metres of dance floor, 280 rolls of PVC tape, a washing machine and
drier, a lighting rig, a sound system, and the all important kettle for afternoon tea.
Revfeim’s tango-inspired ballet Si Supieras opens the programme. Borrowing its title from an old tango, the work draws
on the sensual elements of the dance.
Shona McCullagh brings her immense style and energy to Verge, a new work combining ballet and contemporary dance.
Fans of classical showpieces will relish the wedding pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty, and Christopher Hampson’s
Esquisses, a sweetly subversive homage to 19th century tutu tradition. Hampson is best known for loosening ballet of its
stiff corsets in his two major works for the company, Saltarello and Romeo and Juliet.
John Allen, Chief Executive of New Zealand Post says New Zealand Post is delighted to lend its name and support to
ballet’s special rural delivery.
“New Zealand Post is a committed supporter of the arts and the community, and New Zealand Post Tutus on Tour gives us
the opportunity to combine the two by helping the Ballet deliver its world class performance to heartland New Zealand,”
he says.
The season opens at Wellington’s Westpac St James Theatre on 10 February and six weeks and 48 centres later, closes at
Lower Hutt’s Little Theatre on 24 March.
Touring itinerary:
Akaroa: 22 February
Alexandra: 9 March
Ashburton: 25 February
Auckland, Botany Downs: 27 February
Auckland, Papakura: 1 March
Auckland, Takapuna: 25-26 February
Auckland, Titirangi: 24 February
Balclutha: 3 March
Blenheim: 15 March
Christchurch: 23-24 February
Dannevirke: 23 March
Dargaville: 2 March
Dunedin: 2 March
Gisborne: 17-18 March
Greymouth: 19 February
Hamilton: 22 February
Hawera: 18 February
Invercargill: 4-5 March
Kaikoura: 13 March
Kaitaia: 3 March
Kerikeri: 4 March
Lower Hutt: 24 March
Masterton: 22 March
Napier: 19 March
Nelson: 16-17 February
New Plymouth: 19 February
Oamaru: 27 February
Palmerston North: 20 March
Paraparaumu: 18-19 March
Putaruru: 11 March
Queenstown: 6 March
Rotorua: 13 March
Taihape: 16 February
Taupo: 12 March
Tauranga: 15 March
Te Kuiti: 20 February
Thames: 10 March
Timaru: 26 February
Twizel: 11 March
Upper Hutt: 23 March
Wainuiomata: 17 March
Waipukurau: 22 March
Wanaka: 10 March
Wanganui: 17 February
Wellington: 10-12 February
Wellsford: 9 March
Westport: 18 February
Whakatane: 16 March
Whangarei: 5-6 March
Note: The company divides into two groups, in order to tour the North Island and South Island at the same time. Dates
are subject to change.
Creative team
Si Supieras
Choreography: Turid Revfeim
Music: Jonathan Besser
Design: Kate Venables
The Sleeping Beauty, Act III wedding pas de deux
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Verge
Choreography: Shona McCullagh
Music: Aquarius Suite No.2 for String Orchestra by John Ritchie
Design: Elizabeth Whiting
Esquisses
Choreography: Christopher Hampson
Music: Esquisses Op.63 by Charles-Valentin Alkan
Design: Gary Harris
All lighting: Jason Morphett