Southern Ballet’s new programme

Press, 10 June 1977, Page 10

Southern Ballet’s new programme

Jhe Southern Ballet Theatre will present a new programme of four short ballets at the James Hay Theatre from July 7 to 9, with three evening performances and a Saturday matinee. T hree of the four will be danced to live music.

The semi-professional company of 22 dancers will be seen in classical, neoclassical and dramatic work as well as a fun folk ballet. “En Blanc” is choreographed by Lorraine Peters, who is the company’s coartistic director with David Peake. This is a classical ballet “in white” which will be danced to Tchaikovsky’s music and played on two pianos by Dobbs Franks, conductor of the Canterbury Orchestra, and Patrick O’Byrne, winner of the National Concerto Competition (piano) last year.

David Peake has named his new neo-classical ballet, “Outcast.” It has been set to Debussy’s music and played on an electronic synthesizer.

1 Lorraine Peters and David I Peake have combined on the - choreography for their new : dramatic work, “The Sisters.” They have chosen ■ Prokofieff music, which will , be played by a quintet from ■ the Canterbury Orchestra. FOLK BALLET II “Rodeo” can be described ) as fun folk ballet. The choIjreography is by George Wil'iliams, an associate director Hof the company, who has set , the movements to a Poulenc • score to be played by a sexi tet from the Canterbury Or- : chestra. The comnanv will be led

by David Peake, its principal dancer. The soloists, all of whom have risen from the ranks of the 5.8. T., are Adrienne Purver, Deborah

011 e y , Fiona Tonkin, Robyn Wenborn, Nadine Stoddart, Susan Trainor and Douglas Fitzgerald. “The Southern Ballet Theatre is very proud to be able to present soloists of such a high standard as these dancers have reached,” iMr John Gregory, executive I director of the company, said I yesterday. TOURS The S.B.T. has been invited to take part in the Nelson Arts Festival early I next year, after a very successful season there last| year when the company; presented “Coppelia” led by Gillian Francis, he said.

The company also presented “Coppelia” in Dunedin last May.