Royal New Zealand Ballet announces 2016 line-up

Monday 19 October 2015

Royal New Zealand Ballet announces 2016 line-up:

2016 sees Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia reveal his first full season for the national ballet company. The exciting line-up includes a festival programme of larger-than-life contemporary works that have never been seen in NZ, the world premiere of a new full length ballet of The Wizard of Oz, and the return of an acclaimed classic.

“I’m very happy to have this opportunity to share with you my first season - an expression of what I believe is vital in this world: balancing tradition with innovation. To have major classical repertoire in the same programme as amazing works by choreographers such as William Forsythe who changed ballet forever, is the embodiment of that. It’s a special occasion for NZ audiences and enables me to continue to grow our talented dancers”, he says.

For the first time in 12 years the RNZB will be part of the New Zealand Festival with an explosive mixed bill of three brilliant dance works by some of the world’s most important contemporary choreographers. Speed of Light will include: Alexander Ekman’s Cacti which has taken the world by storm since its premiere in 2010 and will feature the New Zealand String Quartet; the legendaryWilliam Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated – a great work originally commissioned by Rudolf Nureyev for the Paris Opera Ballet; and one of Europe’s most dynamic choreographersAndonis Foniadakis’s Selon désir. Speed of Light will also be part of the opening week of theAuckland Arts Festival, followed by performances in Christchurch and Dunedin.

The RNZB is delighted to premiere The Wizard of Oz created by RNZB Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia. This stunning new production was originally created for Maggio Danza in Florence, however due to an accident of fate the production never opened. Six years later, and with some finishing touches, this much loved tale, set to music by Francis Poulenc with magical sets and costumes by Italian designer Gianluca Falaschi will have its world premiere in Wellington. The Ryman Healthcare Season of The Wizard of Oz will tour to nine centres around New Zealand including Blenheim’s new ASB Theatre – an enchanting winter treat for the whole family.

Four years since its creation and subsequent international tours (China, USA, and UK and Italy in Oct/Nov this year), former Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel’s acclaimed Giselle returns to grace New Zealand stages. The hauntingly beautiful ballet which was also turned into a feature film by Toa Fraser has become one the RNZB’s signature works. This return season enables NZ audiences to once again marvel at the exceptional artistry involved in the retelling one of classical ballet’s great stories.

The year will end with a tour to Asia of Liam Scarlett’s acclaimed ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream which premiered in NZ in August this year and wowed audiences and critics and audiences alike.

ENDS

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