To begin the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 70th birthday year, Tutus on Tour 2023 looks affectionately back at the RNZB’s early days, with performances in some of Aotearoa’s smaller cities and towns and loveliest historic theatres.
Patricia Barker has carefully curated a collection of works which encapsulate the history of ballet, and her desire to share treasures from the RNZB’s recent past, alongside works new and old that the dancers can’t wait to perform.
Le Papillon and After the Rain – made almost two centuries apart – both show the intimate magic of a couple dancing together, creating a miniature world in the spotlight onstage. ‘Nobody Takes Me Seriously’ from 2001’s landmark FrENZy is a toe-tapping solo to Tim Finn’s Kiwi classic and the chance for one of the company’s men to cut loose, with style.
The programme is completed with two works each for eight dancers: the New Zealand premiere of Brian Enos’ elegantly neo-classical Cold Winter’s Waiting (2013) and Greg Horsman’s classical showpiece Holberg Suite, created for Tutus on Tour in 2009 and now given a welcome revival.
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.
A rollicking piece of entertainment with great Dance!
A double bill by the South Island’s professional dance company – Primarily Dance.
1. Afternoon With Percy has terrific dancing to well-known Percy Grainger piano melodies (e.g. Country Gardens).
First performed in the US with dancers from Ballet Idaho.
2. After the interval comes Melodrama, a brand-new contemporary ballet which shows the making of a black & white silent film. The heroine, hero, and dastardly villain all playing their usual roles, with encouragement to the audience to cheer the hero, boo the villain and wipe a tear away as the singer emotes through her song.
Underlying the film plot are the 'real-life' attractions between the actors and the Director and film crew!
Our cast include favourites Tabitha Dombroski, Callum Phipps and Bjorn Aslund, with newcomers Zoe White, Andrew Rushby, and Nelson dancer Jordana Arnold. Featuring pianist Louis Lucas-Perry and singer Rosemary Galton.
Dust off those musical theatre cobwebs and return to your seats to indulge in the magic of the very best songs and dance from stage and screen. Showcasing a young cast of Nelson Tasman Dancers, this glittering concert of musical theatre showstoppers is not one to miss.
Legacy Dance Company Enono (ενώνω in Greek) features a spectacular song list of your favourite toe-tapping numbers from the world’s greatest musicals including Anything Goes, Singing in the Rain, Grease, Mamma Mia, Cats, Joseph, Six and Hamilton
Enono (ενώνω) is a night set to delight and will be an experience you will never forget.
Enono (ενώνω) show is a 4 Act show that will go on a journey through the development of Musical Theatre Shows, Choreography, Music and Costumes. Legacy Dance, Company Students will transport you through the “Pre 1960’s Musicals”(Act 1), Energise the Jukebox Musical era (Act 2), pay homage to the The Great American Song book era (Act 3) and power the Modern Musical’s (Act 4).
Legacy Company cast are local Nelson and Tasman dancers that have dedicated time to explore, train and develop the craft as performers. With many dancers recently representing Nelson Tasman at National Level Dance competitions and events.
Our creative team, lead by Okiwi Hawkins and Gemma Laing, and our cast are excited to be bringing this truly amazing show to Nelson this summer. This show will not disappoint and know there is something for everyone of all ages in this show.
Tickets for the 26 August show are valid for this new date without the need for exchange.
A festival of dance open to all secondary schools across the Top of the South Island.
The festival gives students the chance to perform in a professional environment, student choreographers have the opportunity to share their work, plus students gain practical lighting, front of house, design and stage management experience.
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!
Fantasy and reality collude with one another in this spiraling ascension of desire and disgrace.
Dry Spell delves into a shuddering moment in time, blending nostalgia and futurism to create scenes of excitement, fear and pleasure. A mind can be very misleading, especially when we are in close proximity to it. Performed by Footnote New Zealand Dance's team of electrifying dance artists, with choreography by trailblazing choreographer Rose Philpott and sound design by acclaimed composer Eden Mulholland, Dry Spell is a performance for thrill-seekers. Teetering on an edge of hallucination and reality, this full-length show taps into the collective and individual needs of the soul.
After cancellations last year, Gillian Francis’ Academy of Dance is back, presenting 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.
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.
