Let us entertain you with fabulous dancers performing a variety of dance numbers - Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Jazz, Classical Ballet, Lyrical and guest performances from Tasman Tappers.

You will be enchanted by the studio's mini dancers and dazzled by the talent and ability of the senior company dancers. This is a show for the whole family with energetic Jazz routines, emotive Lyrical pieces and wonderful Tap numbers.

There is certainly something for everyone and we are excited to again put on a professional dance production for Nelson audiences. Book your tickets now and be entertained!

Join Ballet Nelson to witness the rags to royalty journey of Cinderella as she dances and transforms with the help of her Fairy Godmother, alongside her mouse friends and seasonal fairies.

Cinderella’s fashionable and sometimes comedic stepsisters and her evil stepmother, who is repulsed by Cinderella’s natural charm and beauty will go to any lengths to win over the prince.

Meanwhile the prince will dance his way on a quest to find true love.

Guest dancers are:

Get ready for a night of dazzling costumes, love, laughter and ballet.

The Wakatu Dance Theatre’s 2022 show will have you leaping into your seats! Get ready as we embark on this journey through different eras, locations and cultures, all with iconic music from a variety of genres.

Directed by Peta Spooner, this year’s show includes ballet, modern jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and tap.

Peta is delighted to welcome students from Jane Pascoe Academy of Dance, Michaela's Musical Theatre and Glenna Armstrong School of Tap, which just adds to the quality of performance and entertainment on offer. Join us for Travel, Turn and Leap!

The Nutcracker ballet is a magical, festive, family treat about a Christmas gathering and a young girl’s dream about her gift of a nutcracker transforming into a handsome young man. Her prince takes her on a journey to the Kingdom of Sweets, where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

I am Lesley Bandy, the Artistic Director of Primarily Dance. I performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for many years, and now I want youngsters here in Nelson/Tasman to experience the magic of Tchaikovsky’s music and the spectacle of this wonderful ballet. In 2020 we had a sold-out season of The Nutcracker and are excited to bring it back again in 2021.

Having a good time, we’re having a ball!

Wakatu Dance Theatre is known for its joyful, high energy and diverse performances with everything from ballet to jazz, and contemporary to tap, sprinkled with some musical theatre. The music covers many genres, many you’ll know and love… be prepared for some great entertainment!

This year we welcome Glenna Armstrong School of Tap and Trudy Fargher’s seniors from FADA to join us on the stage. Our dancers are so excited, come join us for a dance extravaganza!!

Gillian Francis’ Academy of Dance presents a charming, funny and comical ballet for all ages.

Doctor Coppélius, a mad scientist constructed a doll named Coppélia who sits on her balcony all day reading and never speaking to anyone. A boy named Franz falls deeply in love with her and wants to marry her, even though he is already engaged to another woman. His fiance, Swanhilda, sees Franz throwing kisses at Coppélia. She decides to impersonate the doll, in order to win the love of Franz. Chaos ensues, but all is soon forgiven. Swanhilda and Franz make up and get married.

As in previous seasons of Nelson Academy of Dance, you will be treated to a wonderful set and stunning costumes, making this a performance not to be missed.

Grooves! is an electric mix of classical ballet, jazz in pointe shoes and contemporary dance, set to the Rock music you love. Performed by six of Aotearoa New Zealand's best professional dancers, Grooves! is designed to entertain and excite with everything from traditional tutus to sequins.

The programme includes a taste of traditional ballet with ‘The Dying Swan’ danced by ballerina Laura Saxon Jones, and a snippet from the ballet Les Sylphides. ‘Captured’ presents a stunning pas de deux to Bic Runga's lyrical, emotional, love song, capturing the hearts of audience members and the New Zealand icon herself. The moving intergenerational duet ‘Smile Lines’, choreographed by RNZB Choreographer in Residence Loughlan Prior, will pull on your heart strings in all the right ways.

We then present a number of original contemporary ballet vignettes, danced to classic rock songs, mixing the familiar with the new, inviting audiences to connect their own stories to the pieces. Moving from one song to the next will have the audience fascinated by the dance, and even the youngest patrons will be inspired by what could come next.

Grooves! welcomes local talent onto the stage to perform alongside professional dancers in several numbers, giving them the opportunity to see the potential of a career in dance.

Bursting with personality and entertainment, Grooves! allows even the most novice dance audience members to feel connected, inspired and moved. It is the ballet you have been waiting for.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet is delighted to expand the company's much-loved regional touring programme in 2020, featuring works tailor-made for the RNZB by trail blazing choreographers at home in New Zealand and on the world stage.

A family programme for all ages, watch the dancers of the RNZB perform some of their favourites works.

Inspired by the goddess of the hunt and of the moon, Sarah Foster-Sproull's Artemis Rising was created in 2019 as a retirement gift for the much-loved former RNZB Principal Abigail Boyle. Remember, Mama is a tender look at the relationships between mothers and sons, from childhood to old age.

Berceuse by US choreographer Penny Saunders, a rapturous, deeply musical pas de deux to a lyrical lullaby by Benjamin Godard, was created in 2011 for the ground-breaking contemporary Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago.

Completing the line-up is a new classical work, Wayward, by young Canadian dancer and choreographer Kiara Flavin, who joined the RNZB in 2018.

Running time: 1 hr 20 min, including interval

Fall in love with the story of Tchaikovsky's favourite ballet.

Director Louise Hawke presents The Ballet Arts Company in a Christmas fairy tale dream of innocence and romance.

Your family will love the storybook narration, enchanting images, cinematic effects and all the entertaining magic of the Russian ballet tradition. Couture costuming handmade in the USA, UK and Australia for this production. A fairy tale dream in music on the theme of childhood from the greatest of ballet composers. Onstage for all your family to enjoy as a Christmas treat.

Featuring Stars of NZ Ballet Full Length Ballet

Proudly Sponsored by Nelson Pine Industries since 2003

http://www.balletartsnelson.com