2019 TODD SCHOLAR AND RNZB APPRENTICE PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED

The Royal New Zealand Ballet is pleased to announce Teagan Tank as the Todd Scholar for 2019. A graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, Teagan is originally from Christchurch where she studied at the Anneliese Gilberd Academy.

 The long-running annual award is funded by the Todd Corporation and is New Zealand’s most prestigious professional ballet scholarship, securing a place for an NZSD graduate to join the RNZB for one year.

During her time at the School, Teagan had the opportunity to dance with the RNZB in Divertimento No. 15 by George Balanchine, part of the company’s Dancing with Mozart tour, and The Nutcracker by Val Caniparoli.

Teagan says: ‘Joining the Royal New Zealand Ballet is something I have been working towards for so many years and to be awarded the Todd Scholarship to do so is an absolute honour. Thank you so much to the Todd Corporation for their continued support of the arts and allowing young dancers like myself to continue on this amazing journey. Your generosity is truly humbling and I am so grateful to now be able to do what I love every day.’

RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker says: ‘As the Todd Scholar, Teagan’s talents, beauty and grace are a testament to her hard work.  Teagan is a welcomed addition to the Royal New Zealand Ballet and I look forward to guiding her talents and watching her grow as a performer and artist.’

2019 also sees the launch of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s apprentice programme as part of its commitment to providing pathways for young dancers to establish their professional ballet careers.

Patricia Barker says: ‘Apprentice programmes are central to many established ballet companies around the world and these, along with shorter term internships, will allow the RNZB to work more closely with the New Zealand School of Dance and with dance schools around New Zealand and beyond as well as their talented young students.’

New Zealand School of Dance graduates Cadence Barrack, Vincent Fraola and Calum Gray, along with Australian Ballet School graduates Ella Chambers and Joaquin Thomas-Mourad will join the RNZB as apprentices in 2019.