1:08 pm today

A fresh start for the RNZ Ballet with artistic director Ty King-Wall

From Culture 101, 1:08 pm today

This weekend in Wellington the Scottish Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet share the same stage with a range of short works. The Scottish Ballet go on to present A Streetcar Named Desire from Thursday at the Auckland Arts Festival. 

For the Royal New Zealand Ballet it's a big refresh year under a new, younger executive team. Executive Director Tobias Perkins started in 2023 and comes to Aotearoa from the Leeds-based Northern Ballet, while artistic director Ty King-Wall joined last year. Ty is the first New Zealander to hold the position in 52 years.

Ty King-Wall has returned to New Zealand with his family after a celebrated career across the Tasman where he danced for the Australian Ballet since 2006, and was promoted to principal artist in 2013.
 
King-Wall has recently announced his first annual programme. Following the much-cherished annual national touring programme Tutus on Tour, which winds up this month, and the Scottish Ballet visit, April sees the return of The Firebird choreographed by New Zealand sensation Loughlan Prior, and then much more.

Culture 101 is joined by Ty King-Wall