Four New Ballets For N.Z. Company

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31378, 25 May 1967, Page 2

Four New Ballets For N.Z. Company

“Charade” is one of two works created especially for the New Zealand Ballet’s current season, which opens in Christchurch at the Theatre Royal on June 6, and one of four entirely new ballets for the tour.

Mr Ray Powell, ballet master to the Australian Ballet, prepared “Charade” with designs by a New Zealander, Kris Fredriksen, and created the principal role for Jon Trimmer. Guest artists on the tour will be Belinda Wright, and her partner-husband, Jelko Yuresha, who is the choreographer of “Pas des Sylphes” and is responsible for its designs and the discovery of the music—a long-neglected work by Adam, the composer of

“Giselle”—in the British Museum.

Widely-known as primeballerina with London’s Festival Ballet, Miss Wright will be remembered here for her appearances as Ballet Rambert’s most recently-appointed ballerina.

Jelko Yuresha began his career with the Belgrade Opera Ballet and made his permanent home in England. The couple has danced together continuously over the last few years, appearing as

guest artists with the Royal Ballet They have come to New Zealand after a tour of the Far East Miss Peggy van Praagh, artistic director of the Australian Ballet, produced Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballet ‘Les Rendezvous” during her company’s season in Wellington earlier this year. Choreography for “A Time For Offenbach” was done by Jurek Shabelewski, and the designs by Raymond Boyce.