Students On Tour With the Royal New Zealand Ballet

Six of our classical students recently enjoyed the privilege of touring with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB), dancing in venues all over New Zealand for their season of ‘Giselle’.

The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) is formally recognised as the ‘Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’. This relationship brings many benefits and recently a group of hardworking and talented students were selected to tour throughout New Zealand with our national ballet company. They danced to largely full audiences at each destination and fulfilled dreams of performing on opera house stages. With these students on the cusp of launching their careers the timing of this opportunity cannot be overstated.

“Being able to tour New Zealand with RNZB has been such an amazing experience. Getting to dance in class, rehearsal and then eventually onstage alongside those who I have admired in all their performances is such a privilege.” – Jack Whiter (NZSD student)

Not only did the students get a taste of what their future careers may hold but importantly were able to reconnect with former students and experience first-hand the transition that this group has made from being graduates to valued company members. Even with a full tour schedule to deliver, the students found time to explore the towns visited and have fun with old friends.

Instagram post

“This has been a long-time dream of mine and it was great to experience it and get a feel for life as a professional ballerina.” – Alice Beedie (NZSD student)

Opportunities to join the RNZB regularly take our students further afield, just last year Sophie Arbuckle was selected to travel with the company on their European tour of ‘Giselle’.


Photo: graduate Georgia Powley with students Sophie Arbuckle and Alice Beedie in costume for ‘Giselle’