Today, 2 July, TelstraClear has become the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s new national sponsor.

The move underlines TelstraClear’s long-held belief in the importance of arts in the New Zealand community.

CEO, Dr Allan Freeth, says: “We are very excited at the opportunity our partnership with the Royal New Zealand Ballet represents. While our primary role is to connect people, we like to do this in ways that make their lives better, richer and more productive. With these values in mind, this partnership is a natural fit for us.

PHOTO CAPTION: Amanda Skoog (Managing Director, RNZB) gives Dr Allan Freeth (CEO, TelstraClear) his first glimpse at the Cinderella costumes for the company’s upcoming production. Lucy Green is wearing Cinderella’s tutu (not quite complete - more Swarovski crystals are still to be added), Lucy Balfour as a rose, and Paul Mathews as the Grasshopper. CREDIT Evan Li.

“We are confident it will deliver a broad range of cultural and business opportunities that will benefit both organisations, as well as New Zealand’s creative sector.”

The three and a half year partnership with the Royal New Zealand Ballet is TelstraClear’s first and most significant investment in a national arts company. TelstraClear also supports regional arts organisations at a local level such as Auckland Theatre Company, Court Theatre in Christchurch and Palmerston North’s Centrepoint Theatre.

“Kiwis strongly believe the arts help define who we are as New Zealanders, as was shown in a recent Creative NZ survey. We are delighted that TelstraClear is supporting us to connect with our local audiences and to fly the flag when we tour internationally,” says Amanda Skoog, Managing Director RNZB.

“Through this partnership TelstraClear is sending a strong message of the value it places on the arts, and we are grateful for its foresight and social responsibility. “

As part of the agreement TelstraClear will be associated with company dancer Lucy Green, one of the RNZB’s highest-profile young dancers. Two senior dancers, Lucy Balfour and Paul Mathews, have been named TelstraClear ambassadors.

The upcoming production The TOWER Season of Cinderella will be TelstraClear’s first as national sponsor and each year it will have naming rights for a high profile national tour.

The TelstraClear Season of Giselle, which will tour to eight centres from 7 November – 12 December, is regarded as one of the most dramatic and beautiful of ballets. It will be RNZB Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel’s first choreographic work for the company and a highly anticipated new production, which will star his fiancée, prima ballerina and RNZB principal guest artist Gillian Murphy.

After 12 fantastic years as national sponsor, Meridian Energy will continue to support RNZB as a season sponsor.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB)

For every dollar we receive in funding we generate $1.60. For the 2011/2012 financial year, 38.5% of the RNZB’s operating income came through the Ministry for Culture & Heritage subsidy. As this is not expected to increase, the RNZB must focus on growing its income from other sources, including tickets sales, commercial activity, philanthropy and sponsorships. The RNZB’s development team have created a strong sponsorship and donor portfolio that now contributes 21% of the company’s operating income.
 

TelstraClear

TelstraClear is one of New Zealand’s largest full-service telecommunications companies providing fixed line and mobile communications solutions to all types of businesses – from small enterprise to large corporates, government departments and multinational organisations. It also connects over 200,000 residential customers across the country.

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