Tutus on Tour at the Bruce Mason Centre

By BERNADETTE RAE

There is something for everyone in this gorgeous touring programme and the Royal New Zealand Ballet again show the breadth of their talent and the depth of their skills in its most splendid performance.

Artistic Director Gary Harris' fine judgment also shows in his restaging of the opening item, the exquisite Paquita Variations, a classical showpiece dressed in softest cream and ivory, with just an innocent hint of the French boudoir in the tutu bodices, crossed with corselet, above the customary froth of tulle.

The work provides a ravishing vehicle of introduction for several new dancers, all fresh and full of promise, and beautifully led, on Friday night, by the lovely Nadine Tyson and her partner, Craig Lord.

Tyson and Lord again paired up perfectly in the duet in Frenzy, Mark Baldwin's memorable and modern choreographic interpretation of a sumptuous selection of Split Enz music, which closes the programme.

Frenzy is another virtuoso display of the company's talents, this time high octane, as comic as the 80s seen retrospectively can be - and New Zealand to the core.

You won't miss the magical Larissa Wright and Graham Fletcher in Frenzy, or Yorkie Chadwick's big hair, but watch out also for Jane Turner in Shark Attack.

Turner usually stars in the company's big white ballet roles, the perfect Aurora, Cinderella and Juliet - but is equally perfect in everything she does, technically, musically, artistically and classical or contemporary.

Between Paquita and Frenzy sit the sensuous Melting Moments, also choreographed by Mark Baldwin, originally for Limbs, and performed on Friday by the riveting Wright and Fletcher.

Then there is the premiere season of Javier De Frutos' challenging new work Milagros, set to and exploring the themes of violent sacrifice, religious ritual and pagan outpourings of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

It is best to just let the difficult, dangerous and dramatic images De Frutos evokes wash over you, to feel them rather than work them out intellectually.

* Tutus on Tour plays the Hawkins Centre, Papakura, tomorrow and Selwyn College Theatre, Wednesday.