Hits And Kisses For Ballet's 2005 Programme

Media release
8 October 2004
HITS AND KISSES FOR BALLET'S 2005 PROGRAMME

Pucker up: the Royal New Zealand Ballet's 2005 programme is a hit and kiss affair.

The passionately titled A Million Kisses to My Skin lines up next to the much-loved tiki-touring institution Tutus on Tour, the blockbuster ballet Dracula and festive favourite The Nutcracker.

"2005 is our year of hits and kisses," says Artistic Director Gary Harris.

"Sharing our love of ballet is at the heart of everything we do. From brand new contemporary works, to tried and true classics and new slants on old favourites, the coming year shows the company's versatility and strength. Whether you're a curious first-timer or one of our most committed fans, you won't want to miss a moment," says Harris.

"I'm particuarly thrilled the company will be working with exciting New Zealand choreographers Adrian Burnett, Daniel Belton and Shona McCullagh, as well as local designers Elizabeth Whiting and Tanya Carlson and the incomparable Kristian Fredrikson," he says.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet will spend 20 weeks on the road and tour 50 centres in 2005.

* New Zealand Post Tutus on Tour, a six-week, 49-centre tour of community theatres, school halls and opera houses, tours nationally from 10 February to 24 March. The season features work by McCullagh, Belton, Marius Petipa and Christopher Hampson.

* The company will make its first appearance at the San Francisco International Arts Festival with a new triple bill, A Million Kisses to My Skin. The production presents work by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, David Dawson and Javier De Frutos, and tours New Zealand from 12 to 28 May.

* The Meridian Energy Season of Dracula makes its eagerly awaited return from 15 July to 28 August. New Zealand audiences were first introduced to Michael Pink's Dracula in 2000 with an attention-grabbing 'go to the bloody ballet' campaign.

* Promising Sugar Plum Fairy fun, The TOWER Season of The Nutcracker tours eight centres from 28 October to 11 December. Choreographers Gary Harris and Adrian Burnett give ballet's Christmas classic a new lease of life.

The box office opens to the public for all ticket sales on 9 November 2004, with the exception of New Zealand Post Tutus on Tour, which goes on sale on 12 January 2005.

ENDS

© Scoop Media