N.Z. dancer to be first soloist in South African ballet

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32564, 25 March 1971, Page 6

N.Z. dancer to be first soloist in South African ballet

Miss Gillian Francis, of Christchurch, formerly principal dancer of the New Zealand Ballet, has accepted a threemonth contract with the P.A.C.T. Ballet Company in Johannesburg as first soloist. She has the option of renewing her contract for another year.

Her first engagement with the South African company will be the Blue Bird pas de deux in “Sleeping Beauty,” in which Dame Margot Fonteyn will dance the lead role of Princess Aurora as guest artist. The season will open in Johannesburg on April 24. Miss Francis has been dancing with the Australian Ballet, on leave from the New Zealand Ballet, for the last 15 months. She has just returned from touring the United States and Canada with the Australian company, which received standing ovations throughout the North American continent.

By accepting P.A.C.T.’s contract, Gillian Francis had to forgo an offer from the

New Zealand Ballet to dance principal roles for the home company fit the next Auckland Festival.

Two other former members of the New Zealand Ballet, Michael Baker and Brian Paltridge, are already dancing in the South African company. Now having a brief holiday with her parent;, Miss Francis expects to leave New Zealand at the end of next week. She chose the South African rather than the New Zealand contract to gain further overseas experience and for another opportunity to dance in the same company as Dame Margot Fonteyn—to watch her “marvellous work.”

Dame Margot Fonteyn was guest artist with the Australian Ballet for its Canberra season last year when Miss Francis was in the corps de ballet. Miss Francis is still on leave from the: New Zealand Ballet and would like to return to it sometime. “I am a New Zealander at heart and I am always interested in the progress of our own company,” she said yesterday. “I hope to be home for Christmas, 1972.”

In the meantime she would like to return to England after she leaves South Africa. She studied in Britain for several months in 1968 but returned at the request of the New Zealand Ballet for the 1969 "Cinderella” season. She also came back from the Australian Ballet last year for a short season with the New Zealand company. Michael Baker, now a leading dancer in P.A.C.T. Ballet, partnered Miss Francis during the latter part of the “Cinderella” tour, in extracts from “Don Quixote” for television and at an outdoor performance sponsored last year by Lane, Walker and Rudkin in its factory grounds.

Since joining the Australian Ballet and doing extensive tours with the company, the petite blonde, Miss Francis has, inevitably, changed in appearance. She may still be “a New Zealander at heart” but she now has the indefinable aura of an international dancer—a kind of subtle serenity that singles out ballerinas from film stars, stage actresses and singers. Dancing in the company of such guest stars as Nureyev, . Fonteyn and Lucette Aldous does more than improve the technique and artistry of ‘a receptive dancer. The recent tour of the United States and Canada

wan the highlight of her career. Though always reticent to talk about herself, she admits that it was a thrilling experience to be in a company that received standing ovations in North American theatres which held more than 3000.

The Australian Ballet was also lavishly entertained at embassies, by private citizens . and American ballet companies. The visiting dancers were taken on sightseeing tours in many cities and to Broadway shows, including “Applause,” in New York.-

The company mounted the full-length version of “Don Quixote” and an extremely popular all-Australian programme, whieh included Sir Robert Helpman’s “Display” and a selection of divertissements by other Australian choreographers. Having Nureyev as a guest artist, who danced in both programmes, was a tremendous drawcard for the Australian Ballet. Performances were booked out before the company arrived in every city, but audiences were quick to appreciate the talent of the Australian dancers as well as the guest star.

“The Australian Ballet was a great ambassador for its country,” Miss Francis said.