Royal New Zealand Ballet

Monday, May 28, 2012

NZSO & RNZB Collaboration Showcases Nine New Works

Wellingtonians will be treated to two special FREE events on Saturday 16 June when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet will perform together for the first time in six years

Leaps & Sounds will showcase nine world premieres of short works choreographed by RNZB dancers to music by composers, all under the age of 25, from the NZSO's Young Originals Todd Corporation Young Composers Award.

"The collaboration, between two of our national performing arts companies, aims to nurture young talent and provide audiences with free access to these works performed, by the country's leading musicians and dancers," says Christopher Blake, NZSO Chief Executive.

Each choreographer selected music from the NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composers Award recordings archive. They had approximately 40 hours to create their dance work and were also responsible for casting fellow RNZB dancers and designing costumes for their piece.

"Our dancers are enjoying the opportunity to choreograph their own work on their colleagues.  Furthermore, the collaboration with the NZSO means that they are able to work with original New Zealand music and have their creation performed to live symphonic music. We are delighted that this event has come to fruition," says Ethan Stiefel, RNZB Artistic Director.

Several of the selected compositions were created when the composers were only 15 years old and, although recorded by the NZSO, have never before been performed live for an audience.  Hamish McKeich will conduct the NZSO in the two performances of one hour each.