The must see show for December! F.A. Dance Centre is excited to perform their 2023 show Jigsaw for Nelson audiences. Jigsaw is about the different pieces of dance, with Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Musical Theatre pieces, as well as Tap from Tasman Tappers.
This show certainly has something for everyone with high energy Musical Theatre and Jazz numbers, through to emotive, technical Lyrical and Classical performances, as well as popular Hip Hop dances that have everyone dancing in their seats.
Performing is the highlight for the dancers, giving everyone the wonderful experience of dancing in the beautiful Theatre Royal. Beginners, adults and experienced competitive dancers are all given their chance to shine. Jigsaw is also showcasing talented dancers that recently enjoyed the trip of a lifetime dancing in NYC and LA this year.
Director Trudy Fargher, teachers and dancers can’t wait to share their passion and energy with you.
Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Piazzolla orch. Leonid Desyatnikov Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas
Enjoy a taste of foreign climes in this programme of beloved string works. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a favourite, and famously paint each of the Italian seasons in vibrant sound and instrumental colour.
Astor Piazzolla’s Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (also known as The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) transports us to the steamy streets of Argentina, cleverly combining Vivaldi’s most recognisable tunes with the sensual tango sounds which characterised Piazzolla’s ear-catching style.
Directed by NZSO concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen, this programme will also feature fellow NZSO violinists Anna van der Zee, Malavika Gopal, Simeon Broom and Alan Molina playing a ‘season’ each. With its lush string sounds and music so evocative of faraway locales, this concert promises to be a transporting pleasure for the senses.
Vesa-Matti Leppänen Director
Anna van der Zee Violin
Malavika Gopal Violin
Simeon Broom Violin
Alan Molina Violin
Composed in 1918, The Soldier’s Tale’s first tour was cut short by the Spanish flu but it has remained a perennially popular work ever since.
Written “to be read, played and danced”, The Soldier’s Tale tells the story of the titular Soldier who makes a deal with the Devil: in exchange for the Soldier’s magic violin, the Devil will grant his every wish. This work is based on a Russian folk tale, was co-created with Swiss writer C.F. Ramuz, and gave Stravinsky the chance to display and include all of his favourite musical influences. You’ll hear tango, waltz, ragtime, Jewish klezmer, church chorales, and the Spanish paso doble all brought together in Stravinsky’s intoxicating score.
In theatres and halls across Auckland and Northland, actors, dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and an ensemble from the NZSO will present this classic tale of magic, desire and being careful what you wish for.
Beatrix Potter's beloved characters come to life as dancers of the Nelson Academy of Dance perform tales from the famous author. Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggywinkle and Jeremy Fisher the dapper frog, take to the stage for a festive performance that will delight children and adults alike.
Squirrel Nutkin, 2 Bad Mice, Pigling Bland, Country Mice, Tabitha Twitchett, and all the other characters will take you back to your childhood memories.
As can be expected from the Nelson Academy of Dance you will be treated to a wonderful set and stunning costumes, making this a performance not to be missed.
The Tales of Beatrix Potter is running as a double bill with The Jewels: emerald, ruby and diamonds.
Both ballets feature music by well-known composers, with Tales of Beatrix Potter arranged by John Lanchbery.
Gillian Francis is delighted to welcome back Jordan Nelson in this year's performances.
Jordan made his way into his first dance class at age 18 and began dancing professionally with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet and Columbia City Ballet. He has since danced with Elements Contemporary Ballet, Madison Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence and has been a guest artist around the world. His career highlights include: performing Tchaikovsky Pas de deux at the Harris theatre, dancing with stars of NYCB in Stars and Stripes and Allegro Brillante, and getting to perform numerous times on the Opera House stage at The Kennedy Center.
Jordan just finished his first season with Saint Louis Ballet under Gen Horiuchi and couldn't be more excited for what is still to come.
Starring Jacob Chown of the Royal NZ Ballet as "Tchaikovsky".
Intimate letters reveal the story of Tchaikovsky's greatest ballets, as told in the composer's own words. Scenes of Aurora's Wedding, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and the Marinsky Pas de Deux.
An original ballet production with magical music, enchanting images, cinematic effects, narration and all the glamour of the Russian ballet tradition.
Tutus! Glamour! The magic of Russian Ballet. A Festive Treat!
Presented by Director Louise Hawke & the Ballet Arts Company & young stars of NZ Ballet.
They say that Opera has the best tunes, but these days we so rarely hear them in the provinces.
There is clearly a hunger to hear these marvellous melodies sung by the "big voices". Last year, Lloyd Webber to Puccini, featuring tenor James Rodgers and mezzo Rachelle Pike sold-out Blenheim's ASB Theatre. So we are doing it again, this time in Blenheim and Nelson, with four NZ Opera colleagues presenting an evening of music from the worlds of Grand Opera and Musical Theatre - their favourites and yours.
Baritone Robert Tucker directs and performs Opera Unboxed, with New York based mezzo Rachelle Pike, our favourite Aucklander Helen Medlyn, and exciting young Wellington tenor Declan Cudd, accompanied by international pianist Catherine Norton.
On her 16th birthday, a curse by the evil Carabosse causes the beautiful Princess Aurora to fall into a deep sleep for 100 years. Only the kiss of a prince could awaken her.
Set to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky, join the dancers as they take us on a dream-like journey through this classic fairy tale, complete with fairies, a magical kingdom and the opulent splendour and costumes we love from Gillian Francis, Nelson Academy of Dance.
The performance will present dance students as the featured performers in this authentic full-length ballet and this year Gillian introduces international dancer, Jordan Nelson.
Jordan began his professional career with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2012. Since then he has danced with Columbia City Ballet, Madison Ballet, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and has returned to Ballet Chicago as a guest artist. His career highlights to date are performing Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux at The Harris Theatre in Chicago, dancing Stars and Stripes and Allegro Brillante with stars of NYCB and performing in The Opera House at the Kennedy Center. This was his second season with Festival Ballet Providenc and Jordan is thrilled to have the opportunity travel in Nelson NZ to work with Gillian and her dancers!
This ballet casts a spell of delight all the way to true love's kiss! A joy for the whole family and not to be missed!
The Nelson Symphony Orchestra is Celebrating Christmas with a concert of Classics.
Featuring well known Nelson soprano Allison Cormack, singing popular Christmas songs , The Little Drummer Boy, Ave Maria and others.
They are also playing orchestral classics including :
Tchaikovsky -Nutcracker Suite.
Bizet -L’Arlesienne Suite No.1
Prokofieff - Lieutenant Kije Suite
Leon Jessel – Parade of the Tin Soldiers
Leroy Anderson – Sleigh Ride
A concert with something Christmas for everybody.
Join us for an evening of exceptional chamber music featuring the prizewinning Ferio Saxophone Quartet. These exciting young musicians are emerging as one of the leading British saxophone quartets among the new generation and have been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike. Thanks to generous local sponsors and volunteers all proceeds from this concert will go to support the work of Save the Children.
Ferio Saxophone Quartet: Huw Wiggins/Soprano, Ellie McMurray/Alto, Jose Banuls/Tenor, Shevaughan Beere/Baritone
Programme:
J.S. Bach - Italian Concerto BWV 971
Jean Françaix - Petit Quatuor
Gaetano Donizetti - Una Furtiva Lagrima
Hugo Reinhart - Quartet in F Minor for Saxophone Quartet
INTERVAL
J.S Bach (arr. Ferio) - Prelude and Fugue in G Minor BWV 535
Eugène Bozza - Andante et Scherzo
Guillermo Lago - Ciudades: Montevideo, Sarajevo and Addis Ababa
Will Gregory - Hoe Down
Following 2017 sell-out performances of Swan Lake, Moscow Ballet la Classique returns to New Zealand to present the jewel of classical ballet, Tchaikovsky's spectacular masterpiece The Nutcracker
La Classique was founded in 1990 by its current director Elik Melikov. La Classique with its artistic ballet mastery, lavish costumes and magnificent stage sets will take us on a journey back in time to the frost-covered, gas lit world of Clara, her beloved Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer.
This romantic tale with its blend of magic and realism brings to life the popular Tchaikovsky score featuring the famous "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Waltz of the Flowers."
The greatest success of Russian theatre is undoubtedly Classical ballet.
With this delightful production of the much loved Nutcracker, la Classique captures the imagination, the passion, the humour and magic of the
"is the dream for real . . . or is it just a fairytale"
From the critics
As sweet as a nut, it doesn't get much better than this - Jersey Evening Post
Gloriously traditional production that captures all of the fairytale enchantment and beauty one could wish for - Manawatu Standard
you do not have to be a ballerina to love this lavish performance and lush music which magically brings to life one of our most loved tales - Bop Times
The Moscow Ballet la Classique's 'The Nutcracker' with its stunning sets, costumes and dancers was truly magical to watch - Waikato Times
