Award winning choreographer returns

Media Release

Award winning choreographer returns to the Royal New Zealand Ballet

Award winning Venezuelan director and choreographer Javier De Frutos is in Wellington working with the Royal New Zealand Ballet to create a brand new work.

The Anatomy of a Passing Cloud is a piece very much inspired by the Pacific. It explores New Zealand’s relation to its physical location and its very identity as a Pacific nation. “I have taken Pacific influences that I like: inspirations, sounds, shapes, styles, and reworked them. Obviously the Pacific is not my home as it is yours but I feel that as a guest you can own the love of something and I love this part of the world.”

Javier is excited to be back in New Zealand working with the RNZB on a piece that celebrates the company’s 60th year. “This work is very important to me, and reverential. I didn’t jump on a plane and fly 36 hours to piss people off, that is not what I am about. I guess I also celebrate in my own way a relationship with the RNZB that spans 10 years since the creation of Milagros in 2003”.

Christened the “shock jock of contemporary dance” by journalists, De Frutos’ work has received international acclaim, including winning an Olivier Award, working with pop stars Pet Shop Boys and more recently being the movement director on the pilot for hit TV show Game of Thrones.

The Anatomy of a Passing Cloud has its world premiere alongside two other brand new ballets in Wellington at the St James Theatre on 27 February for Made to Move. It then tours nationwide visiting Napier, Auckland, Takapuna, Palmerston North, Dunedin and closing at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre on 24 March.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Season of Made to Move tour dates:

Wellington: 27 February – 2 March, St James Theatre
Napier: 5 March, Napier Municipal Theatre
Auckland: 8 – 10 March, ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre (as part of the Auckland Arts Festival)
Takapuna 13 – 14 March, Bruce Mason Centre
Palmerston North: 17 March, Regent on Broadway
Dunedin: 20 March, Regent Theatre
Ashburton: 23 – 24 March, Ashburton Trust Event Centre

Approximate running time: 2 hours, including two intervals.
Casting note: As with all RNZB productions, there are several casts. Audience members are advised to check the RNZB’s website for cast lists.

For more information visit: http://www.nzballet.org.nz/shows-and-events/made-to-move/about/

About Javier De Frutos
1995 Won the Paul Hamlyn Award
1999 Achievements recognised in a South Bank Show Special
2000 Became a Fellow of the Arts Council of England
2004 Receives Olivier Award nomination for achievement in Dance (Elsa Canasta)
2004 Won the Time Out Live award
2005 Won Critic Circle National Dance Award (as well as numerous nominations)
2005 Receives Olivier Award nomination for best new Dance Production (Milagros – a RNZB piece).
2006 Became Artistic Director of the Phoenix Dance Theatre
2007 Won Olivier Award for 'Best Theatre Choreographer' for Cabaret
2011 Receives Evening Standard Theatre Award with Pet Shop Boys for The Most Incredible Thing.
2012 Receives Olivier Award nomination for London Road at the Cottesloe Theatre

Made to Move:
Three world premieres in one night, Made to Move showcases three brand new works that celebrate the joy of dance, opening in Wellington at the end of next month.
Ethan Stiefel’s first original work for the RNZB, Bier Halle, brings the exuberance of a Bavarian inspired beer hall to the stage. Choreographer Javier De Frutos creates his third work for the RNZB, The Anatomy of a Passing Cloud, inspired by the Pacific, an exciting follow up to his award-winning Milagros (2003) and Banderillero (2006). Former company member Andrew Simmons, creator of 2010’s beautiful A Song in the Dark complete the trio of world premieres with Of Days.

Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB):
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013 the RNZB is an intrinsic part of New Zealand’s national heritage, and has the largest following of all New Zealand performing arts companies. The RNZB enjoys a reputation for strong and unique interpretations of full-length dramatic works. To this base have been added the masterworks and major ballets of the 20th century, such as Balanchine's works and the Stravinsky ballets, and the company has an enviable track record in commissioning new works from New Zealand and international choreographers. The RNZB regularly represents New Zealand on the international stage, with recent tours to the UK, Australia and a tour to China is taking place in April of this year. Filming of the third series of hit reality television show ‘Secret Lives of Dancers’ commenced in early 2013 and will be on screen later in the year. The New Zealand Film Commission are funding a major motion film directed by Toa Fraser (No 2 and Dean Spanley) based on RNZB’s 2012 season of Giselle for general release in late 2013.

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