2017

Barbara Webster Memorial Scholarship

$10,000 – Supported by a bequest in memory of Barbara Webster

The Ballet Foundation was pleased to honour the memory of support Barbara Webster, through a scholarship for a classical ballet student at the New Zealand School of Dance. The scholarship provided $2,000 per annum to a classical ballet student studying at the New Zealand School of Dance, official school of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

The 2017 recipient was Mali Comlekci.

Harry Haythorne Award

Supported by the Harry Haythorne Fund

The finals of the 2017 Harry Haythorne Choreographic Awards were held at the Royal New Zealand Ballet studios in Wellington with five emerging choreographers – Jo Funaki, Laura Saxon Jones, Shaun James Kelly, Sarah Knox and Loughlan Prior – presenting new works created on the company.

First place went to Auckland-based choreographer Sarah Knox for her work Between There and Now, which featured nine dancers and was set to music by Rhian Sheehan.

The audience choice award was won by Japanese choreographer and former RNZB dancer Jo Funaki for his work So Ko Ka Ra Na Ni Ga Mi E Ru?, featuring eight dancers and the music of Lajkó Félix És Zenekara.

Partner a Dancer – Harry Skinner

The Foundation continued to support the RNZB through the Partner a Dancer programme. Harry left the RNZB at the end of 2017 to pursue full time university study.

Sponsorship of the New Zealand School of Dance Associates programme

$10,000 over two years

The Associates programme identifies classical and contemporary dance students from throughout New Zealand who have the talent for a career in dance performance. Each year they have 4 weekends of tuition at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington. The Foundation’s funding assisted in the delivery of this programme.

New Zealand School of Dance Ballet Foundation Scholarship

This Ballet Foundation scholarship was awarded to a classical ballet student at the New Zealand School of Dance to support their fees.

The 2017 recipient was Saul Newport. At the end of the year Saul took up a position at Houston Ballet II, the junior company of Houston Ballet. In 2021, he returned to New Zealand and joined the RNZB.