National ballet boss takes final bow
Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) executive director Frances Turner has resigned.
In a statement issued yesterday, RNZB chair Steven Fyfe said Turner was leaving to be with her family and pursue new opportunities in Auckland.
Turner’s two and a half years at the head of New Zealand’s national ballet company were marred by trouble at the end of last year, when the board commissioned an independent review to investigate claims of workplace bullying and foreign dancers being preferred over New Zealanders.
The review cleared RNZB of those allegations but did make recommendations for its workplace complaints process. Flick Electric Intergen Datacom Malaghan Institute
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Fyfe acknowledged Turner’s contribution to the organisation at a time of transition. ‘‘Frances has brought great insight and inspiration to the executive director’s role and she has engineered a lot of positive change during her time at the RNZB during challenging circumstances,’’ he said.
Turner’s colleague and RNZB artistic director Patricia Barker, who joined the company in June 2017 from the United States, said she was fortunate to have had Turner’s support during her time adjusting to New Zealand’s arts scene.
‘‘She has introduced me to New Zealand and to this country’s multifaceted arts scene and has made me feel truly at home,’’ Barker said.
Turner said she was most proud of deepening RNZ’s connection to its audiences through its marquee touring shows, and re-launching regional touring programme Tutus on Tour.
But her final year in charge attracted as much attention for its controversies as its successes. In December 2017 the organisation held a ‘‘planning meeting’’ following an exodus of dancers and unhappiness in the arts community over its decision not to hire any of that year’s graduates from the New Zealand School of Dance.