Wellington Pathways: Information sharing on studying at NZSD

A series of informal talks for young dancers interested in the pathway to full-time study at the New Zealand School of Dance.

NZSD faculty provide insights from the School’s perspective and answer questions on:

  • The programmes at NZSD
  • What to expect from full-time dance training
  • How to apply
  • What it takes to audition successfully

As a national institution and the Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand School of Dance remains committed to providing exceptional dance training and developing well-rounded dancers who can succeed at the highest level.

Click Here to Register
Wednesday 14 July, 18.15 pm – 19.15 pm
Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, Newtown

Free to attend
Maximum 2 seats per booking

A morning with Harrison James & Ben Rudisin

Observe Ben Rudisin & Harrison James teach the classical ballet students of the New Zealand School of Dance 

$20 per person  | General Admission

NZSD offers an intimate experience watching Ben Rudisin teaching the 1st Year classical ballet students, while concurrently, Harrison James will teach the 2nd and 3rd Year classical ballet students. This will be followed by tea and a Q&A, with NZSD Director Garry Trinder interviewing Ben and James on their journeys in dance.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

  • 10.00 – 11.30 am Dance Studio 4: Ben Rudison teaching 1st Yr classical ballet students *
  • 10.00 – 11.30 Dance Studio 2: Harrison James teaching the 2nd and 3rd Year classical ballet students*
  • 11.30 – 12.00 Refreshments
  • 12.00 – 12.30 Q&A

*Patrons will be at liberty to move from one studio to another at appropriate junctures in the class.

About Harrison James

Harrison James was born in Paraparaumu, New Zealand and trained at San Francisco Ballet School’s Trainee Program in California and the New Zealand School of Dance. He danced with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Béjart Ballet Lausanne before joining The National Ballet of Canada in 2013 as a member of the Corps de Ballet. Harrison was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2016.

Recently, Harrison made his debut as Eurydice in the world premiere of Orpheus Alive and Armand in Marguerite and Armand. He has danced such lead roles as Leontes and Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Peter/The Nutcracker in The Nutcracker, Lensky in Onegin, Albrecht in Giselle, James in La Sylphide, Jack/The Knave of Hearts and Raj/Caterpillar in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Count Danilo Dailowitch in The Merry Widow, Vronsky in Anna Karenina, L’Aviateur in Le Petit Prince, Des Grieux in Manon, the title role in Apollo, Oberon in The Dream and Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. His repertoire includes Swan Lake, NijinskyFrame by FrameChaconneEtudesPaquitaThe Second DetailThe Vertiginous Thrill of ExactitudeGenusWatch herBeing and NothingnessAngels’ AtlasEmergenceCarousel (A Dance)Piano Concerto #1Paz de la JollaSpectre de la RoseThe Dreamers Ever Leave You and The Sea Above, The Sky Below.

In 2019, Harrison won the Rolex Dancers First Award for his performance as Alexei Vronsky in Anna Karenina, Oberon in The Dream and the title role in Apollo. In 2015, he was awarded the Patron Award of Merit by the Patrons’ Council Committee of The National Ballet of Canada.

About Ben Rudisin

Ben Rudison. Photo by Aleksander Antonijevic

Ben Rudisin was born in Woodbridge, Virginia and trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and Houston Ballet II in Texas. Ben joined The National Ballet of Canada as a RBC Apprentice in 2013 and was promoted to First Soloist in 2019.

Ben has danced such lead roles as Diaghilev in Nijinsky, Rothbart in Swan Lake, Prince Gremin in Onegin and the male lead in Being and Nothingness as well as Paris in Romeo and Juliet, Icicle in The Nutcracker, The Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, L’Allumeur in Le Petit Prince. His repertoire includes roles in The Sleeping BeautyGiselleCinderellaThe Winter’s TaleNijinskyAnna KareninaThe Merry WidowManonFrame by FrameA Streetcar Named DesireLa SylphideThe Four SeasonsThe ConcertChaconneAllegro BrillanteSymphony #9Carousel (A Dance)The Second DetailApproximate Sonata 2016ChromaGenusAngels’ AtlasEmergenceCactiPetite MortPaz de la JollaNightOrpheus Alive and The Dreamers Ever Leave You.