Comments on: Tutus on Tour – a “symbiosis of two arts”

By: Patricia Rianne

Patricia Rianne — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:53:43 +0000

As a New Zealander living abroad I very much appreciate and look forward to Jennifer Shennan’s astute musing on the activities of NZBallet. Tutus on Tour has had a long ,strong life , committed to sharing the pleasure of performance beyond the main centres .
Members of Scottish Ballet would be able to share the fact that since the 1970s that company has taken accessible works, old and new , to the nooks and crannies of Scotland in the same manor.
In 1974 Scottish Ballet toured Australia for several weeks culminating in performances in Wellington and Dunedin. The international language of dance is a bond that can be shared by dancers all over the world to show the commitment, expertise and identity which performance is proud to display.
Maybe it’s time for NZBallet to go abroad again?!

By: Margaret Frost

Margaret Frost — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 19:50:14 +0000

How wonderful Jennifer. Your review brings to LIFE some of my happiest days. In the early 60’s taking ballet to the remote backwoods where often there was no theatre – only a hall with a stage. And on one occasion, there was a stage but no space behind the backcloth to cross over from one side to the other! Only doors on either side which led straight into paddocks!!
This meant we had to go round the back of the hall, carefully picking our way to avoid sheep droppings!! Thus, the seeds of ballet were sown, and the aspirations and endeavours of our founding father, Poul Gnatt, continue to flourish and grow. Congratulations. Thank you, Jennifer, for such a vivid description of what was clearly a JOY-filled evening both on and off stage!!

Congratulations to all!

By: Prue Densem

Prue Densem — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 02:53:23 +0000

This is a wonderful review! I loved the way you talked about the friends you met 🙂 I‘m sorry I missed it this year. But you evoke such vivid images! I remember a stunning performance last year. Hopefully I won’t miss next year’s Tutus on Tour….

By: Rosalind McIntosh

Rosalind McIntosh — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 23:59:25 +0000

Lovely, thank you again, Jennifer!
A delightfully enlivening read!
Wonderful how you (and Peter too in his beautiful reviews) can translate visceral and emotional resonances with the arts of dance and music into evocative words so that we, too, can enjoy the talent of our dedicated performers even long after their presentations.
The glimpses of such work being embedded in, and evolving through, history reminds us of the wider cultural and essential significance of these beautiful arts to our community spirit and care as well.

By: Penny Griffith

Penny Griffith — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:42:19 +0000

It’s a pleasure to read that ballet is reaching out beyond the mainstream urban audiences. Jennifer Shennan has brought the whole experience to life, with a warm understanding and deep knowledge of the art itself, its history in Aotearoa and the performance she so clearly appreciated and enjoyed. An excellent and balanced review.

By: Derek Firth

Derek Firth — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 21:16:39 +0000

Jennifer Shennan transports your readers into the atmosphere of the theater with language skills matching those of the artists she describes. She brings to us an understanding of dance and its history second to none. As Patricia Rianne implies and Tutus on Tour reminds us dance has always been by the people for the people. What another great example!

By: Patricia Rianne

Patricia Rianne — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:45:15 +0000

So nice to read that the company is bringing performance to the far reaches of the country. In their wisdom Gnatt and Kerr made sure that dance of quality was taken to areas which would have otherwise missed out on the joy of the art form. History informs ‘ ka mua, ka muri ‘