decade

Russell Kerr | Artistic Director 1962–68

&#8220;Russell was a once-in-a-lifetime artistic genius whose influence extends well beyond our Royal New Zealand Ballet family, but which we also delightfully acknowledge as a cornerstone of our own identity and creative energy.
&nbsp;
A part of his unique gift lay in his extraordinary ability to simultaneously nurture and develop individual artistic talent, the standards and vision of the company as a whole, as well as respectfully developing the artform of ballet itself.
&nbsp;
As anyone who has worked in the studios with Russell will confirm, his own personal experience with some of the greatest names in ballet history was authentically passed on and built upon. The wonderful gift imparted to us by Russell is that his creativity is forever embedded – not only in our history, but also our future.&#8221;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
— Toby Behan, RNZB Board Member and former dancer

Russell and June Kerr in Prismatic Variations, 1960. Photograph by John Ashton, Russell Kerr private collection. Prismatic Variations was created by Russell Kerr and Poul Gnatt, to music by Brahms (Variations on a Theme of Haydn) in 1959. It was revised, with new designs by Raymond Boyce, in 1960, and was a frequent inclusion in New Zealand Ballet programmes for the next decade.

Russell Kerr in rehearsal with a young Jon Trimmer (left), 1960s

An early photograph of Russell and June Kerr (née Greenhalgh). June began her performing career in the UK, with Festival Ballet, now English National Ballet. As one of the dancers building a performing career overseas who chose to ‘come home’ to New Zealand to be a part of the fledgling New Zealand Ballet, June played an important role in the growth of professional ballet in New Zealand. Her performances, especially in the works created by Russell for the company, are remembered with admiration and affection.

Russell teaching class outside at the Festival of the Pines, 1962 – photograph from the Taranaki Daily News

Artistic Director Gary Harris with composer Philip Norman, stager Toby Behan and Russell Kerr, at the St James Theatre during rehearsals for the revival of Russell’s Peter Pan in 2003. Russell and Philip first collaborated on A Christmas Carol at Southern Ballet in 1990 – Russell’s last danced role, as Scrooge – and then in the expanded version of the same ballet created for the RNZB in 2001. Toby Behan, who was one of two original Peter Pans in 1999, went on to follow Russell as Director of Southern Ballet and now sits on the RNZB Board.

Russell at work on Swan Lake ahead of the 2007 revival of his 1996 production.

Subscribe & Save

through the decades

Russell Kerr | Artistic Director 1962–68

Russell Kerr led the New Zealand Ballet from 1962–68, created many productions for the Company over four decades, and brought both the rigor and the magic of professional ballet to generations of New Zealand artists and audiences.

Image Gallery