The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) is set to dazzle audiences this winter with an extraordinary trio of ballets as part of its 2024 season.
Solace: Dance to Feed Your Soul, presented in association with Ryman Healthcare, will grace the stages of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and Ōtautahi Christchurch from 1 to 17 August.
This season features the innovative work of three celebrated choreographers: Wayne McGregor from Britain, Sarah Foster-Sproull from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Alice Topp from Australia.
RNZB Artistic Director Ty King-Wall expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, highlighting the power of dance as a medium for diverse expression and the remarkable physical capabilities of the human body. “I’m looking forward with such anticipation to our Solace season,” King-Wall said, “in which our dancers and audiences alike will experience the incredible capacity of dance as a language for diversity of expression and the unbelievable physical capacity of the human body for movement.”
Wayne McGregor’s Infra, derived from the Latin word for ‘below’, offers a profound exploration of urban life. This abstract ballet delves beneath the surface, presenting a moving meditation on human interactions. Originally premiered at the Royal Opera House in London in 2008, Infra features an LED screen that spans the stage, displaying Julian Opie’s mesmerizing walking figures. The ballet’s twelve dancers navigate solos, duets, and ensembles, accompanied by Max Richter’s haunting score, blending melancholy string melodies with electronic sounds.
Sarah Foster-Sproull’s To Hold marks her fifth original work for the RNZB. This piece examines the intricate wonders of the human form, showcasing shape-shifting and endless inventiveness. Eden Mulholland’s powerful score complements the dancers’ movements, enhanced by Donna Jefferis’ costumes, which draw inspiration from Issey Miyake’s high-fashion tailoring and pleated designs.
Rounding out the programme is High Tide, a poignant new creation by Alice Topp, a beloved RNZB alumna and former Resident Choreographer at The Australian Ballet. Inspired by Ólafur Arnalds’ music, this ballet reflects on the cycles of life, touching on themes of growth, fear, and reconciliation. Jon Buswell’s unique stage design transforms the space into a living sculpture, emphasizing the fluid and ever-changing nature of life.
King-Wall remarked on the significance of bringing Wayne McGregor’s work to New Zealand for the first time, noting McGregor’s transformative impact on ballet over the past two decades. “Infra possesses a quiet power and immense beauty, and it is wonderful to be seeing it on our shores for the first time,” he said. He also expressed his joy at collaborating with Alice and Sarah again, highlighting the strong relationships and fruitful collaborations they have had in recent years.
Solace: Dance to Feed Your Soul promises to be a highlight of the 2024 cultural calendar, offering a nourishing experience that combines the creative genius of leading choreographers, composers, and designers. This season of reflection, beauty, and profound human connection, showcased through the artistry of dance, is not to be missed.
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