The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) has been named the official school of the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB).
The relationship between the two organisations has always been strong – when the NZSD was founded in 1967 its purpose was to train students for the RNZB. Over the years the NZSD has undergone changes in course structure, programs and direction but the professional association has remained intact, as evidenced by the number of NZSD graduates who have joined the RNZB and the existence of ongoing initiatives, such as the Todd Scholarship. Supported by the Todd Corporation since 2001, this scholarship pays for a graduate from the NZSD to enter the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Elisabeth Zorino has been named this year's Todd Scholar, and will be joining the Company in January 2015.
The formalising of the relationship between the NZSD and the RNZB will see even greater collaboration between the two entities. “The signing of this document reflects the original manifesto of the New Zealand School of Dance", says the NZSD director Garry Trinder. "The aspiration both organisations share is to present young New Zealanders with a legitimate career path through entry to the School and into the Company. Our primary wish is to see more New Zealanders remain in the country and play pivotal roles shaping our national dance culture."