Royal New Zealand Ballet

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The Royal New Zealand Ballet is based in Wellington, New Zealand. It was originally known as The New Zealand Ballet Company.

[edit] History

New Zealand Ballet was established in 1953 as an independent charitable trust by Royal Danish Ballet Principal Poul Gnatt, Beryl Nettleton, Bettina Edwards[1], another female dancer, and pianist Dorothea Franchi.

In the late 1950s notable New Zealand dancers Russell Kerr, Rowena Jackson and Philip Chatfield, her English dancer husband, returned from overseas to join the company.

In 1962 Jon Trimmer returned to the company after studying at the Royal Ballet School in London and performing with the Sadlers Wells Company. He remains a leading artist with the company in 2007 performing many character roles over the last 20 years.

In the 1960s and 70s the company survived by touring extensively throughout the country and has been directly funded by the New Zealand government since 1998.

In 1984 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II granted the title Royal to the company making it the third ballet company (after the Royal Ballet, London and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet) so honoured.

In 2006 the company had 32 dancers, and performed nationally and overseas[2].