RNZB New Choreographic Series

Four extraordinary choreographers.
Thirty eight dynamic dancers.
Four brand new works.

Look to the future of dance as four new generation dance-makers redefine ballet for the 21st century.

Sarah Foster-Sproull returns with the same wild imagination and energy that thrilled audiences in her brazenly colourful work, Despite the Loss of Small Detail, in the RNZB’s 2018 Strength and Grace.

This time Sarah is making a powerful work for our much-loved dancer Abigail Boyle, transforming her into the Greek deity Artemis, formidable goddess of the hunt, wild animals and fertility. With a bespoke soundtrack by long-time collaborator and dance music maestro Eden Mulholland.

Shaun James Kelly is loved by New Zealand audiences for his joyful, musical dancing. Now, as an RNZB Choreographer in Residence, he stakes his claim as one of this country’s most exciting innovators of classical dance choreography.

By applying levels to movement, Shaun’s work will expand and stretch the classical form to explore and play with gravity, time and growth. Set against the brilliant structure, momentum and harmonic drive of J S Bach, this new work will satisfy lovers of pure dance in all its forms.

James O’Hara has flourished internationally as a dance performer, teacher and choreographer. He is currently based in Wellington sharing his extensive knowledge with students at the New Zealand School of Dance, the official school of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

James’s work for this programme investigates scales of innovation, from the personal shifts we surrender to how we wish to effect change in and on the world around us. He collaborates with Christchurch born experimental composer Motte (Anita Clark) who will perform her score live onstage with dancers from the RNZB.

Moss Patterson is an award-winning choreographer and a passionate advocate for Maori culture and contemporary dance in Aotearoa. Now he shares his clear indigenous voice with the dancers of the RNZB in a powerful exploration of Maori mythology that fuses traditional and balletic movement.

Traditional taonga pūoro instruments and the raging sounds of Te Reo heavy metal band Alien Weaponry give birth to a fusion reverberating through time and obliterating all preconceptions of what a ballet company is capable of.

Experience ground-breaking, original choreographic works designed on the dancers of the RNZB, as we expand our repertory with the spirit of Aotearoa. With limited performances, these special shows are guaranteed to sell fast.