Touring New Zealand (and abroad)
The company went international with its touring in the 1980s, as well as continuing the regular regime of grass-roots performances across Aotearoa.
Touring to Shanghai | 1985
A billboard promoting the RNZB’s first visit to Shanghai in March – April 1985, photograph by Bob Maysmor.
Two programmes were presented, the first consisting of Prokovsky’s Faust Divertissement, Chris Jannides’ Hunter, Bournonville’s La Ventana and Jack Carter’s Witchboy, the second, Bournonville’s Le Beau Danube, Gaylene Sciascia’s Moko and Prokovsky’s Königsmark.
Image Gallery
The Ragtime Dance Company | 1981
Linda Anning, Jon Trimmer and Karin Wakefield in The Ragtime Dance Company, 1981. Choreographed and designed by Gray Veredon, to music by Scott Joplin, The Ragtime Dance Company was frequently performed through the 1980s, with Jon Trimmer performing The Entertainer’s Solo as part of the Company’s 30th anniversary gala in 1983.
Le Papillon | 1989
This fairytale ballet, to music by Offenbach, and based on a mid- 19th century work by Marie Taglioni, was choreographed by Paul Jenden, who also designed the costumes. The sets were by Philip Markham.
A Servant of Two Masters | 1989
Eric Languet as Truffaldino and Cathy Goss as Smeraldina in A Servant of Two Masters, 1989.
Knowing when it was designed that A Servant of Two Masters would tour to Europe, Harry Haythorne requested, only half joking, that Kristian Fredrikson design a set that could fit into two suitcases. He obliged.
Warren Douglas as Brighella, the publican, in A Servant of Two Masters, 1989.
Warren died in 1995, having made the transition from full-time dancing to arts administration. The Warren Douglas Scholarship Fund, administered by the Nikau Foundation, now helps other dancers to do the same. Recent recipients include Abigail Boyle, Laura Saxon Jones and Paul Mathews.
RNZB Collection, PAColl-8050-36-8, ATL & PAColl-8050-36-7 ATL.