DANCING MO WITH Z ART
Greatmusic inspires great dance as the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) presents an eclectic programme of four works – classical and contemporary – inspired by the music of Mozart. This is a chance to see works by two of the greatest choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries and the world premiere of the first ballet created in the frozen wilderness of Antarctica.
Very few companies worldwide are granted permission to stage iconic works by George Balanchine and Jiří Kylián. The opportunity to do so is testament to the international reputation of the RNZB; the company acknowledges they’re big shoes to fill and that they’re joining an elite group in performing the works.
George Balanchine is the great Russian-American choreographer who founded the New York City Ballet and is one of the most influential choreographers of all time. He considered Mozart’s Divertimento
No. 15 in B flat to be the finest ever written. Expect beautiful tutus, pointe shoes and crystal-clear classical technique.
Jiří Kylián’s contemporary ballets are sought after by dance companies the world over and explore the limits of the human body in flexibility and strength. This programme gives you the chance to see two of these iconic works, Sechs Tänze (6 Dances) and
Petite Mort, described by RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker as “an exercise in the beauty and architecture of the body.”
Then marvel at the fragility of existence with The Last Dance, a ballet inspired by Antarctica. Following an adventure to the icy continent with RNZB dancer Madeleine Graham, New Zealand-born choreographer Corey Baker has created a work exploring the impact of climate change, featuring Mozart’s haunting, unfinished Requiem.
Accompanied live by orchestras in the largest touring centres and featuring four outstanding, thoughtprovoking dance works, the programme will delight lovers of classical ballet and contemporary dance alike. Discover the many faces of ballet with this cocktail of playful, sensual, beautiful dance.
Find out more at rnzb.org.nz