The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia’s first programme for the national ballet company, Speed of Light, is wowing audiences and critics alike.

The mixed bill of three internationally acclaimed dance works by some of the world’s most important contemporary choreographers, which premiered in Wellington on the weekend as part of the New Zealand Festival, had near capacity audiences in the capital.  All five of the Auckland Arts Festival performances have already soldout.

Post the Auckland leg of the tour, the company heads south taking the festival buzz to Christchurch (Isaac Theatre Royal 10-12 March) and Dunedin (Regent Theatre 16 March) audiences.

“This really is an unmissable programme.  To be able to see these three works of art in one night is extraordinary.  I’m so very proud of the company’s 34 dancers who really excel themselves in each of the works, and it’s wonderful to have had such a great reaction from audiences and the critics,” says Francesco Ventriglia.

Dance critics certainly agree:

“In Speed of Light the Royal New Zealand Ballet has turned up the volume and delivered the wow factor… Reckless abandon and superb attack, especially the no-holds-barred performances of Alayna Ng and Abigail Boyle.”  Ann Hunt, The Dominion Post.

“… a stunning trio of dance works which show the company to be a formidable dance force.” John Daly-People, National Business Review.

 “A vision, an ecstasy, it was gone, mirage-like, as swiftly as it had appeared.” Jennifer Shennan, theatreview.org.nz

“…20 out of 10 as far as I’m concerned…courageous and skilful dancing and choreography. Brilliant … do go” Lynn Freeman, RNZ, Morning Report.

Speed of Light is an explosive mixed bill of three brilliant dance works: Alexander Ekman’s Cacti which has taken the world by storm since its premiere in 2010 and features the New Zealand String Quartet; the legendary William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated a work which changed ballet forever and was originally commissioned by Rudolf Nureyev for the Paris Opera Ballet; and one of Europe’s most dynamic choreographers Andonis Foniadakis’s Selon désir [According to desire].