A new work from Dunedin-based choreographer and director Daniel Belton features in what will be the Royal New Zealand Ballet's last season under Ethan Stiefel's artistic direction.
The company is touring Allegro: Five Short Ballets during July and August, a programme of diverse ballets from some of the world's leading choreographers.
The programme is described by Stiefel as a showcase of the breadth of ballet styles.
''This programme features a world premiere from New Zealander Daniel Belton; two pieces from New York choreographer Larry Keigwin, who quickly became a Kiwi audience favourite after the success of his work Final Dress in 2012; a neo-classical work by one of the most celebrated choreographers of all time, Balanchine; and a brilliant and fun piece from Johan Kobborg.''
Belton, best known for his multi-award-winning dance films, will create a new work integrating dance with kinetic sculpture, animation and electronic music in an other-worldly piece called Satellites.
New Yorker Larry Keigwin is back with two pieces. Mattress Suite creates six scenes about love affairs, either on or near a mattress and is the first time Keigwin has allowed a company other than his own the privilege of performing his signature work. Megalopolis has been described by The New York Times as a divinely well-structured encounter between formalism and club culture.
Gillian Murphy will make her last appearance as the company's principal guest artist showing off her virtuoso technique in Allegro Brillante by choreographer George Balanchine.
Johan Kobborg, who co-choreographed the RNZB's 2012 production of Giselle with Ethan Stiefel, returns with his signature work. Les Lutins is a work for three dancers and a violinist and pianist playing live on stage.
The New Zealand Development Prize winner at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Kiwi Benjamin Baker returns home for the tour, and Wellington-based RNZB rehearsal pianist Michael Pansters makes his official RNZB debut.
See it
Allegro: Five Short Ballets plays Regent Theatre, Dunedin, on Saturday, August 23 at 7.30pm.
