Winner of the Arts Access Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award 2019.

The RNZB is a role model for everyone in the arts sector wishing to develop new audiences by improving their accessibility and engaging with diverse communities. We applaud its commitment, comprehensive accessibility policy, free companion seat and a programme of events that makes ballet accessible to people who might not otherwise get the chance to experience it. Also impressive is its documentation of audience growth.

– the Judging Panel, Arts Access Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award 2019

Since 2017 when the RNZB adopted an accessibility policy, (one of the first major arts companies in the country to do so), programmes which encourage engagement with all sectors of the community in a wide range of settings have been implemented. Activities as diverse as enhancing the ballet experience for people with vision, sensory and hearing impairments and a ground-breaking programme of dance workshops for prison inmates are bringing ballet to the widest possible audience around the country.

RNZB’s Community and Education Manager, Pascale Parenteau is the driving force behind the Accessibility programme. As the parent of a child with special needs she has a passion for ensuring that disability of any sort should not prevent anyone at any age from enjoying ballet and dance-related activities.