2014

DAVID dance film – Cho. Loughlan Prior

Supported by the Rule Foundation

Showing its commitment to support working choreographers, the Ballet Foundation was pleased to support Loughlan Prior to create a new dance film.

Set against a backdrop of the New Zealand coastline, across two parallel story lines, David examines his young life and those he has come to share it with. The creation of DAVID was a collaborative project between the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Zambesi and Prior Visual. With kind thanks to the support of The Ballet Foundation of New Zealand, The Rule Foundation and Wallace Media. The film screened at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival 2015.

The film featured RNZB dancers William Fitzgerald and Laura Saxon Jones, as well as Loughlan Prior himself.

Partner a Dancer – Hayley Donnison

The Ballet Foundation made its first grant to the RNZB through the Partner a Dancer programme.

Born in Hamilton, Hayley Donnison moved to Invercargill as a toddler and started ballet when she was six. At age ten while dancing at Shelley E Coutts Dance Academy, Hayley moved to Melbourne with her family where she continued her training with Christa Cameron School of Ballet. At 15 she was accepted into the Australian Ballet School and graduated in 2012. While at the ABS Hayley received the Level 5 Award for Excellence and was selected to visit The National Ballet School of Canada and The School of American Ballet on exchange.

Hayley joined the RNZB as an apprentice in January 2013, becoming a full company member in September 2013.