Ballet!

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

Balletomane, en pointe and off.

ballet, ballerina, ballerinas, dance

Image: Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production of "The Nutcracker"

Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production of "The Nutcracker"

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet group

Ballet group

Auckland Libraries

Image: Ballet dancer

Ballet dancer

Auckland Libraries

Image: Ballet training

Ballet training

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet dancers practising

Ballet dancers practising

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet dancers practising

Ballet dancers practising

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Ballet Dancer

The Ballet Dancer

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Alexander Grant, ballet dancer

Alexander Grant, ballet dancer

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Scene from the ballet Pineapple Poll by the Australian Ballet Company

Scene from the ballet Pineapple Poll by the Australian Ballet Company

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet examiner Miss Enid Hall of Sydney with ballet students

Ballet examiner Miss Enid Hall of Sydney with ballet students

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Scott Robertson, ballet-shoe maker

Scott Robertson, ballet-shoe maker

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Dancer, Miriama Heketa in ballet costume

Dancer, Miriama Heketa in ballet costume

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet for the Plunket Ball

Ballet for the Plunket Ball

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production

Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production

Photograph of New Zealand Ballet Company production

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet wardrobe mistress adjusting a dancer's dress

Ballet wardrobe mistress adjusting a dancer's dress

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet dancers Alexander Grant and Rosemary Johnston

Ballet dancers Alexander Grant and Rosemary Johnston

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified male dancer gesturing, Wellington Ballet Company

Unidentified male dancer gesturing, Wellington Ballet Company

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Rowena Jackson preparing for a ballet

Rowena Jackson preparing for a ballet

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet students auditioning for places in the National School of Ballet - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Ballet students auditioning for places in the National School of Ballet - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet Dancers - of the show "Rose Marie", 1959

Ballet Dancers - of the show "Rose Marie", 1959

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Members of the Borovansky Ballet cooking a meal

Members of the Borovansky Ballet cooking a meal

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two dancers from the Borovansky Ballet performing on stage

Two dancers from the Borovansky Ballet performing on stage

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dancers sitting against the wall, Wellington Ballet Company

Dancers sitting against the wall, Wellington Ballet Company

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cook, Hinehauone Coralie, 1904-1993 :[Ballet dancer. ca 1929]

Cook, Hinehauone Coralie, 1904-1993 :[Ballet dancer. ca 1929]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Charade at Hamilton

Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Charade at Hamilton

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Bryan Ashbridge giving private ballet lesson to 5 girls

Bryan Ashbridge giving private ballet lesson to 5 girls

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet dancers rehearsal at Percy Scenic Reserve, Lower Hutt

Ballet dancers rehearsal at Percy Scenic Reserve, Lower Hutt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jazz Ballet - Isobel Hill and Hazel Lee-Johnson, Otahuhu

Jazz Ballet - Isobel Hill and Hazel Lee-Johnson, Otahuhu

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Covent Garden Russian Ballet Company, New Zealand tour, 1939 [picture].

Covent Garden Russian Ballet Company, New Zealand tour, 1939 [picture].

National Library of Australia

Image: Unidentified child ballet dancers at the August Competitions, Wellington Town Hall

Unidentified child ballet dancers at the August Competitions, Wellington Town Hall

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ballet at Government House, Wellington - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Ballet at Government House, Wellington - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio portrait of unidentified girl in ballet dress, probably Christchurch

Studio portrait of unidentified girl in ballet dress, probably Christchurch

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the New Zealand Ballet Company and their Commer van

Members of the New Zealand Ballet Company and their Commer van

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Summer students at Ballet school, Dorothy Daniels Academy of Dancing, Wellington

Summer students at Ballet school, Dorothy Daniels Academy of Dancing, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two attractive children's ballets featured in a recent revue at Opunake, Taranaki

Two attractive children's ballets featured in a recent revue at Opunake, Taranaki

Auckland Libraries

Image: Bryan Ashbridge demonstrating ballet dance move in front of his students in a studio

Bryan Ashbridge demonstrating ballet dance move in front of his students in a studio

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two unidentified women from the Cupidette Sextet Ballet rehearsing at backstage, George Wallace Show

Two unidentified women from the Cupidette Sextet Ballet rehearsing at backstage, George Wallace Show

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Young girls in class of Silverstream ballet teacher Joanne Jones - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Young girls in class of Silverstream ballet teacher Joanne Jones - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Young girls lined up for tightrope walking in class of Silverstream ballet teacher Joanne Jones - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Young girls lined up for tightrope walking in class of Silverstream ballet teacher Joanne Jones - Photograph taken by Ian Mackley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ricardo Ella from the Phillipines on his first day of rehearsals with the Royal New Zealand Ballet - Photograph taken by Stuart Ramson

Ricardo Ella from the Phillipines on his first day of rehearsals with the Royal New Zealand Ballet - Photograph taken by Stuart Ramson

Alexander Turnbull Library