KEY POINTS:
Guest-starring with expat ballerina extraordinaire Lisa-Maree Cullum in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Swan Lake has cost dancer Roman Lazik his job in Germany.
"I resigned on the plane," he says - with a measure of glee.
Lazik, from Slovakia, has danced with companies in South Africa and Israel as well as Europe. The pair are principals in the prestigious Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich and have been primary dance partners for four years.
Cullum left New Zealand at 14 to follow every girl's dream of becoming a great ballerina. Two decades on she has achieved that goal, hailed by critics internationally for her artistic warmth and flawless technique.
"Roman is my prince," says Cullum. "I will so miss him."
Their New Zealand visit was organised months ago. Their leave of absence from Munich was approved and contracts with the New Zealand company were signed.
But Lazik broke his foot in September and missed 2 1/2 months of performances. In February his boss suddenly announced he would not let Lazik go to New Zealand.
"He said I had to prove I can dance again," Lazik says. "But that was wrong. I have done 22 performances of major roles since the accident and before that, in January, lots of little roles.
"There are politics inside the company I do not agree with. The director is not consistent. Other principals are allowed to go and guest.
"And I was still allowed to go - but without a partner?" adds Cullum.
For both, there was no question of cancelling. "It means far too much to me to be here performing in New Zealand," Cullum says.
Both had made a firm commitment, hence the airport resignation. Lazik already has a job in another company to return to.
It is Cullum who seems the most upset at the loss of their professional collaboration and warm day-to-day friendship. "We will be forced to do just private guesting together now," she says.
Cullum last danced in New Zealand six years ago, in the RNZB's Evening of Stars season.
Then, her dance partner was Oliver Wehe, who gave up dancing four years ago. Since then, the 1.86m, broad-shouldered Lazik has been her regular partner in the classical roles.
"A good partnership is hard to find," says Cullum.
"You can find people you feel good with - but to find the one who makes you feel fantastic, who you can completely trust, who will always be there for you, is very difficult."
Such a partnership is based on trust. "I just know Roman will always be there, even if I am completely off for a day.
"Things don't always go as planned. Everyone has off-days. You might not be so well, the mood is wrong - or you do everything right but it just doesn't work.
"Ballet is not a calculated science, it is a living art. That is what makes it so special.
"Every time, the performance is different. And on a bad day your partner can make you feel safe, or just the eye contact can give you a huge amount of energy."
Cullum and Lazik are good friends as well. "We understand each other, we have empathy. We just click."
Four years ago, Cullum married another dancer in the same company, Vincent Loermans, who accompanied her and Wehe on their 2001 New Zealand visit.
Loermans does not dance the same roles as Lazik and was unable to take leave for this visit.
"Vincent was disappointed about that, but he is glad I have Roman with me to look after me. He would rather have that than me travelling alone," she says.
When Lazik joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett seven years ago, Cullum was already a star. Arriving in Munich was a huge revelation.
"I had only seen such beautiful dancers on video," he says of his first days in the company, and watching Cullum rehearse the role of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
"I just sat with my chin down in a corner and watched in awe and I couldn't believe where I was."
Their first partnership, three years later, was in a new piece for both of them and Lazik was equally excited and terrified.
"I wanted her to feel good with me. I wanted to please her," he says. "I was so honoured to have this opportunity. Very slowly I got used to it. You work hard every day. And then one day you feel a part of it."
Cullum and Lazik share the lead roles in the current season of Swan Lake with another guest couple with a special partnership. Newly married New Zealanders Gaylene Cummerfield and Matthew Lawrence are stars of the Australian Ballet and equally as excited about performing at home.
Cummerfield is a former pupil of choreographer Russell Kerr. "I remember Gaylene at Southern Ballet 20 years ago and there was something very special about her even then," he says.
Where and when: Aotea Centre, June 13-17
