RNZB 2019 Season Reveal

It feels like it was just last week that I wrote a post on RNZB's 2018 season - where does the time go?

Still, the Royal New Zealand Ballet announced their 2019 season yesterday. We've got some real gems to look forward to, and it's nice to see how artistic director Patricia Barker is balancing brand new works with the classics.

New Choreographic Series

Caroline Wiley, Fabio Lo Giudice, and Kihiro Kusukami, RNZB

There's not much info on this triple bill just yet, but that might be because the works haven't been created yet - when they say new, they mean new. The works will be by celebrated choreographers, created specifically on the RNZB dancers. Exactly what kind of works? We'll have to wait and see.

Black Swan, White Swan

Paul Mathews and Katherine Minor, RNZB

This ballet is a stripped back, modern version of the classic ballet Swan Lake. Patricia Barker commissioned it in 2012 from Slovak choreographer Mario Radacovsky, and it's had great success in America and Europe. As a big fan of traditional, Petipa-based classical ballet, I'm not too sure about this one, but I'll give it a go nonetheless.

Bold Moves

Sara Garbowski, RNZB

Now this triple bill is something worth waiting for. 1) George Balanchine's iconic Serenade, created in 1934 as one of the foundation pieces of American ballet; 2) William Forsythe's Artifact II, created in 1984, and an emblem of American style; and 3) Andrea Schermoly's Stand to Reason, first seen in last season's Strength and Grace program, and based on the 1888 Suffragette pamphlet 'Ten Reasons Why a Woman Should Vote'. Not an easy line-up by any means, but judging from their performance of Balanchine's Divertimento No. 15 earlier this year, not one to give the company too much trouble.

Hansel & Gretel

Shaun James Kelly and Kirby Selchow, RNZB

I'm pretty excited for this one too. Specially commissioned with choreography from Loughlan Prior and a score by Claire Cowan, this is a major premiere sure to become an instant classic. Based on the beloved fairytale, Hansel & Gretel will finish off the season on a sweet note.

Tutus on Tour

Mayu Tanigaito, RNZB

The company continues touring the smaller centres of the country, this time visiting Ashburton, Whanganui, Oamaru, Nelson, Hamilton, Taupo, Gore, Kerikeri, Whangarei, Gisbourne, and New Plymouth. No word yet on the repertoire we'll be seeing for this tour, but it's good to see the company coming back to places they haven't visited for ages. I'm sure Alison will have more information on the New Plymouth performance closer to the time.

I can't wait - and I also can't choose! Booking is now open for 2019 subscriptions, and public sales open 1 November 2018. You can find more information and book here: http://rnzb.org.nz/shows/

All photos courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Ross Brown

Thanks for reading!

- Selene