50 Years on Their Toes (ATOM Study Guide)

'The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company has survived half-a-century on passion and guts.'

This study guide accompanies the documentary, 50 Years On Their Toes—a behind-the-scenes look at the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) Company in preparation for their 2003 production of Romeo and Juliet. Celebrating its fiftieth year, the RNZB presents the dramatic classic for the fifth time; a breathtaking new version of an old-fashioned story of sex and violence. The documentary takes the viewer through the production process from start to finish and interweaves the important historical events that have contributed to the company being what it is today.

The purpose of this guide is to make relevant links to Dance in the New Zealand Arts Curriculum and to provide possible learning ideas and examples for teachers to use in collaboration with this documentary. This resource is aimed at level 6 of the curriculum and makes direct reference to NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards.

Curriculum Links:

Developing Practical Knowledge in Dance
Developing Ideas in Dance
Communicating and Interpreting in Dance
Understanding Dance in Context