2015

Harry Haythorne Fund

Supported by various donors

Harry Haythorne MBE (1926 – 2014) was the Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet from 1981 – 1992. Before his death, he made a generous donation to the Foundation. Upon his death in November 2014, in lieu of flowers, and in accordance with his wishes, his executors asked for donations in his memory to be made to The Ballet Foundation of New Zealand.

Harry Haythorne Award

$1,500 – Supported by the Harry Haythorne Fund

The Ballet Foundation decided, in partnership with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, to support a choreographic season in his name and held the inaugural Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award.

Loughlan Prior was the winner of the inaugural Harry Haythorne Award. He took both the choreographic award selected by a panel of five judges and the audience prize for his piece Eve, danced by Laura Saxon Jones, Kirby Selchow, Bryn Watkins, William Fitzgerald and Loughlan himself.

Loughlan was delighted with the win. “I am so proud and humbled to be the recipient of the Harry Haythorne Award. Having a platform to create on the talented artists of the RNZB, and then to showcase a work to the public, has been an invaluable moment in my artistic development. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me on this journey.”

Partner a Dancer – Hayley Donnison

The Ballet Foundation continued it’s support of Hayley Donnison through the RNZB’s Partner a Dancer programme. Hayley left the company for her next adventure in 2016.