Royal New Zealand Ballet members Sir Jon Trimmer and Lucy Green get into character for Coppelia with a visit to The Doll's House Dance Shop, in Dunedin, this week.
Sir Jon (74) arrived in Dunedin on Monday with the rest of the dancers for performances of Coppelia at the Regent Theatre tomorrow and Friday.
They will be accompanied by the Southern Sinfonia.
''This tour has been great fun. It's an absolutely wonderful fantasy and family story, with a little love story,'' he said this week.
In the RNZB's latest production, Sir Jon plays mysterious inventor Dr Coppelius, who creates a life-size doll.
''I've been doing that for years, off and on,'' he joked.
Remarkably, he is reprising a role that he first performed for the RNZB in 1964.
''It is a wonderful ballet for all audiences, with exhilarating character dances, including the show-stopping czardas Hungarian folk dance, wonderful classical solos and pas de deux,'' RNZB ballet master Martin Vedel said.
''It will appeal to everyone,'' Ms Green, who plays the title role of Coppelia, said.
''It's a really great ballet for kids. All the dolls are a lot of fun.''
