About Wellington Friends

St James Theatre

Who are the Friends of the Royal New Zealand Ballet?

Wellington is one of several branches throughout New Zealand supporting the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

What do Wellington Friends do?

We are volunteers who support the Royal New Zealand Ballet by:

• increasing the appreciation of ballet through talks and demonstrations.
• encouraging more people to attend ballet through advance seminars and informational forums.
• educating young people though the introduction of “Young Friends” launched in 2003.
• helping young dancers through Masterclasses where students are taught by the RNZB artistic staff.
• raising money for the RNZB for specific projects with a variety of interesting and innovative events. The Friends of the RNZB have been raising funds to buy the dancers shoes for many years.

Foundation of International members in 2007

Each year International members receive:
- National newsletters (4 p.a.) plus Wellington supplements.
- Young Friends newsletters (4 – 6 p.a.)
- A programme and poster for each season
- Season neviews, Christmas gift, Dance News
- Friends fund-raising merchandise to purchase

New members also receive an introductory pack which includes the book
A Time to Dance 50 Years of the Royal New Zealand Ballet by Wellington Friend Jennifer Shennan.

History of the Friends of the Royal New Zealand Ballet

Back in 1954 when the ballet company then known as “The New Zealand Ballet” under the leadership of Poul Gnatt was first touring, it was Poul's dream that public demand for a ballet company would encourage the government to fund a national ballet company. During that initial tour with personnel of one male dancer, Poul Gnatt, three ballerinas, one pianist and one driver cum stage manager cum extra, at the end of each performance the dancers - still in full costume were sent out into the foyer to accept donations and to sign people up as “Friends” of the ballet. Ultimately it was hoped that with a membership of 20,000 the government would be forced to heed the request for financial support.

In return for 5/- the ‘member’ was given two seats at a 10% discount price at the next performance in that town plus they would receive, from time to time news of the company in the form of a newsletter. At the end of the tour a register was compiled with the names and addresses and records were kept. This continued until 1958 when the Nwe Zealand Ballet became registered as a charitable body. A trust board was appointed and the ballet company became official. Sometimes members received ‘Pointe’ magazine, sometimes members received a note reminding them their membership fees were due and sometimes the year went from Jan 1 to Dec 31, sometimes from 1 July to 30 June and sometimes from the time you paid until twelve months later!!! Various administrative staff looked after sending of membership cards and mailing of magazines but as it was no one person’s responsibility members were ‘just there’.

At the 30th Birthday celebrations it was mooted by Kieron Goodwin - the then Tour Manager, that ‘Dance Action’ groups be formed. Initially to help with publicity for the company by way of distributing posters and flyers and generally being there if the company needed anything when they were on tour. While there were several ex-company members who offered to help in this way, Hawke’s Bay was the only area where an actual committee was formed to offer the company hospitality and to help in the publicity as well as raise money so that functions could be held and profit go to the New Zealand Ballet. The ‘Friends’ membership in Hawke's Bay rose from twenty to one hundred and I believe that this gave management and the Board the idea that there was potential for a strong support group.

Mark Keyworth, then General Manager put a proposal to the Board in 1989 and they voted to establish a National Organisation to be known as “Friends of The Royal New Zealand Ballet”. Approval was sought and given for the organisation to become registered as an Incorporated Society and approval given for the name to be used.

During 1990 Mark Keyworth travelled throughout New Zealand talking to existing members and others who it was felt might be interested to be a part of this new organisation in which each area was to be autonomous, but answerable to the National Executive (or Committee).

Since the formation of the ‘Friends’ as an Incorporated Society in 1991 the membership has increased and over the years many hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated to the Royal New Zealand Ballet through the fund-raising efforts of the members. Benefits such as having an assured portion of audience booking early and talking to others about the forthcoming performance are part of the intangible assets of the ‘Friends’.