The Royal New Zealand Ballet is thrilled to welcome former American Ballet Theatre star Veronika Part to its studios, to begin rehearsals for Dancing with Mozart.

She brings a wealth of experience to the RNZB and promises to add extraordinary depth to the company’s upcoming performances of works by George Balanchine and Jiří Kylián, making Dancing with Mozart a must-see for New Zealand dance lovers.

RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker says: “We are thrilled to bring an icon of our industry with such an illustrious career to New Zealand, to work alongside our dancers, inspire students across the country and to bring the world of dance to audiences across our nation.”

Veronika hails from St Petersburg, Russia and began her career at the Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet), where she danced many roles by fellow Kirov alumnus George Balanchine. Following in the great Russian/American choreographer’s footsteps, Veronika moved to New York in 2002, beginning a stellar fifteen-year career with American Ballet Theatre.

The New York Times described Veronika Part as “Tall and naturally suited to adagio roles that highlight slow développé extensions and a luscious upper body, Ms. Part can also leap like a gazelle.”

Veronika was promoted to principal dancer at ABT in 2009 and performed dozens of lead roles by a wide variety of choreographers including Balanchine, retiring from the company less than a year ago. Veronika Part remains the only ballet dancer to have appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and, in performing in New Zealand, continues the RNZB’s relationship with American Ballet Theatre, the long-time home of former RNZB Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel and former Principal Guest Artist Gillian Murphy.

Dancing with Mozart opens on May 31 in Wellington and travels to Christchurch, Invercargill, Dunedin, Blenheim, Palmerston North, Napier and Auckland and will be performed with live orchestra in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.