Royal New Zealand Ballet wins again

The world premiere of Salute in Wellington was an amazing night! After four fantastic shows in Wellington we look forward to sharing this very special production with audiences around New Zealand. The New Zealand Army Band and cellist Rolf Gjelsten will be with us all the way, with Christchurch the first stop on the tour. Christchurch 28 – 30 May at the Isaac Theatre Royal Dunedin 3 June at the Regent Theatre Hamilton 10 June at the Founders Theatre Takapuna 13 – 14 June at the Bruce Mason Centre Auckland 17 – 20 June at the Aotea Centre Napier 24 – 25 June at the Municipal Theatre Here’s what the media said about opening night: The Dominion Post Dear Horizon: The magnificent specially commissioned score by Gareth Farr is imbued with anger at war's terrible waste of human potential. It is brilliantly played by the Army Band, with a very affecting cello solo by Rolf Gjelsten.   Passchendaele: From the powerful fevered opening with bodies hurtling across the stage, to the final image of dead soldiers and grieving lovers, and the final, ominous knock on the door, all the dancers perform intensely and with great skill. (Top) RNZB dancers Paul Mathews and Abigail Boyle (front) in Andrew Simmons' Dear Horizon. Photo by Ellie Richards. (Below) RNZB dancers in Neil Ieremia's Passchendaele. Photo by Ellie Richards. Theatreview.org.nz Soldier’s Mass: The strength of unison is immense in this work but the strength of each individual dancer is electrifying and terrifying as we reflect on war without boundaries and war still in our world today.   Passchendaele: …the vulnerability of both men and women is haunting me still ... Passchendaele is a work that brings each artistic element together brilliantly and it is impossible to disconnect them.

(Top) RNZB dancers in Jiří Kylián's Soldier's Mass. Photo by Evan Li. (Below) RNZB dancers Kirby Selchow and Shaun James Kelly (front) in Neil Ieremia's Passchendaele. Photo by Ellie Richards. Lucire.com Salute: Remembering WW1 is a superb programme, and a fresh way of appreciating the messages in the ongoing centenary commemorations of New Zealanders fighting ‘the war to end all wars’. RNZB dancers Damir Emric and Lucy Green in Johan Kobborg's Salute. Photo by Evan Li.