Ballet At Its Best

The New Zealand Ballet Company presented an excellent programme in the Gisborne Opera House to a large and appreciative audience last month.

Star of the performance was New Zealander Alexander Grant, a member of the Royal Ballet Company, in the role of Petrouchka...the role which made him famous, and revived the ballet into a classic of modern times.

Also making an appearance after dancing overseas with the Danish Ballet Company, was Christine Smith, another New Zealander.

A feature of Petrouchka for the Gisborne audience was the appearance of a group of local dancers who filled minor roles.

From the floor of the stage, Petrouchka makes his final gesture before his puppet life comes to an end.

Christine Smith dances gaily in a street scene from Petrouchka

A scene from the classically styled Soires Musicales

Christine Smith and Terence James dance in Soires Musicales

Alexandra Grant acknowledges the applause

While in the city, the company's ballet master, Kenneth Tillson, judged the Gisborne Ballet Group's annual summer school scholarship class. The winner of the scholarship, Patricia Hall, is pictured with Mr Tillson (right), and the director of the N.Z. Ballet Company, Mr Russell Kerr, after their performances in Petrouchka. Patricia is the daughter of Mr and Mrs R. Hall, 565b Aberdeen Road.

The group of Gisborne dancers who danced in Petrouchka pictured with Alexandra Grant after the performance

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 124 : October 8, 1964

Ballet At Its Best