En Pointe Patrons events | Auckland welcomes the RNZB

The Nutcracker 2025. Soloist Jemima Scott with Artists of the RNZB. Photo Stephen A'Court

For the past two weeks Auckland has been enjoying a summer ballet extravaganza: an end-of-year celebration hosted by our Patron; 12 performances of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s new production of The Nutcracker; and a post-opening night event hosted by the Foundation and RNZB.

Festivities kicked off with the Foundation’s Patron, Jillian Friedlander, hosting an end-of-year party to promote the Foundation to potential supporters. Held at her beautiful home, guests had the opportunity to meet several RNZB dancers and some of the Company’s Senior Management. Executive Director, Tobias Perkins and Artistic Director, Ty King-Wall updated everyone on the Company’s successes in 2025, and provided an overview of what to look forward to in the year ahead. En Pointe Patrons in attendance were also updated on the important contributions their financial support had made to RNZB projects during the 2025 season.

The following night, Ty’s new production of The Nutcracker opened – the first of 12 performances across the two-week Auckland season. Wowing audience members with its classic Kiwiana and 1950s nostalgia, many members of the public were overheard saying how much they looked forward to seeing this ballet become a regular feature of our summer Christmases – just as winter versions of it feature in Northern hemisphere programming.

The Foundation and RNZB celebrated opening night with a post-show celebration, an opportunity for Auckland’s En Pointe Patrons to meet and socialise with some of our very talented dancers, and to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the arts these past 12 months.