2025
Staging of Cathy Marston’s My Brilliant Career
$14,670– Supported by the Auckland and Wellington En Pointe Patrons
For the 2025 opening season the RNZB presented the New Zealand premiere of UK choreographer Cathy Marston’s My Brilliant Career. En Pointe Patrons contributed to the fee for the UK stager.
Costumes for new work by Shaun James Kelly
$24,600 – Supported by the Auckland En Pointe Patrons
As part of the mid-year season, Home, Land and Sea, the RNZB commissioned a brand-new work, Chrysalis, from Choreographer in Residence Shaun James Kelly. En Pointe Patrons provided support towards the creation of the costumes, designed by Auckland-based fashion designer Rory William Docherty.
Musical arrangement for The Firebird
$10,000 – Supported by the Wellington En Pointe Patrons
For the 2025 performances of Lochlan Prior’s The Firebird,’ the RNZB commissioned Principal Conductor, Hamish McKeich, to create a new musical arrangement of the score. This will serve as a lasting musical asset for future RNZB productions. En Pointe Patrons supported the cost of the new arrangement.
Pivot Pointe - Dancer Career Transition
$7,730 from Wellington En Pointe Patrons
En Pointe Patrons voted to support RNZB dancers career transition which the RNZB has identified as an important strategic project. As a first step the RNZB will undertake a pilot programme for six company dancers with a specialised career advisor.
Auckland Education programme
Supported by The William and Lois Manchester Trust
The Trust provided a donation towards the RNZB Education work with schools in the Auckland Region.
DANCE WITH ME Residency, Auckland
Supported by Fran Wyborn
A collaboration with the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau involving workshops and a performance.
Students from low decile schools in the Auckland Region take part in the programme. A series of weekly dance workshops delivered by two RNZB Dance Educators, culminate in a shared performance on stage of the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.
Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation Scholarship
Supported by an Anonymous donor
This Scholarship supports a young Kiwi dancer at the Royal New Zealand Ballet as they work to realise their potential in this most demanding of professions. The Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation Scholar position expands the pathways available for talented young New Zealanders to pursue professional careers in dance in Aotearoa.
The 2025 Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation Scholar is Hilary An-Roddie.