Enchanting night from newcomers

Chantelle Kerr and Craig Lord, regular members of the company, are a study in poise and fluidity. Picture / Stephen A'Court

Two important things happen when a company like the Royal New Zealand Ballet performs in towns, provinces and hamlets off its usual touring track.

First, such a tour is primarily an audience-building exercise and an opportunity to live up to their status as a national artistic enterprise.

Second, because the company is divided to cover the North and South Islands simultaneously, it pushes less experienced dancers to the fore and makes huge demands on everyone to step up to new marks of endurance.

The RNZB fulfilled both functions fantastically at the Bruce Mason Theatre on Friday. The programme, Turid Revfiem's titillating tango Si Supieras, the wedding pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty, an exercise in virtuosity, Shona McCullagh's and luscious Verge, and Christopher Hampson's sophisticated Esquisses made a beautiful balance with something to enchant everyone.

Then there was the dazzling emergence of some new stars. Rowan Cann, who has been in the company for two years - playing the role of Michael in Peter Pan but otherwise a bit of a back-row boy - sashayed into the limelight in Si Supieras, displaying an eyecatching elegance of style and convincing technique.

He shone again in Verge, adapting to the contemporary vocabulary with touching empathy, intelligence and unflagging energy. His duet with talented newcomer Lucy Wells, was a highlight of the evening.

Wells, only 18, has just graduated from the International Ballet Academy in Christchurch, and her first outing with the RNZB shows her as one to watch for natural charisma and grace. Alana Baird worked hard all evening and is a strong and confident dancer with a maturity beyond her years. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance two years ago.

Madam Butterfly star Yu Takayama danced the crowd-pleasing Sleeping Beauty with real-life partner Jo Funaki, with her usual feather-light beauty and perfection of line and Funaki matched this with strength, huge leaps and a pleasing poise.

The tutus have to be the standout stars of Esquisses, although the whole cast dance their hearts out. Jet black with subtle spangles, of classic dimensions and flounce but with a subtle modern edge, they reflect Hampson's clever and bewitching choreography to perfection.

Review

* What: Tutus on Tour
* Where: Bruce Mason Theatre and many other venues
* Reviewer: Bernadette Rae