TelstraClear performs a pas de deux with the Royal New Zealand Ballet

TelstraClear has this month taken up its role as the Royal New Zealand Ballet's new national sponsor.

The million-dollar commitment underlines the company’s commitment to supporting the arts in the New Zealand community.

Meridian Energy has been the principal sponsor for the last 12 years.

TelstraClear 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.

“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 is TelstraClear’s first and most significant investment in a national arts company.

It also supports several regional arts organisations, including 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," RNZB managing director Amanda Skoog says.

"We are delighted TelstraClear is supporting us to connect with our local audiences and to fly the flag when we tour internationally.

“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 will tour eight centres in November and will be RNZB artistic director Ethan Stiefel’s first choreographic work for the company.

The highly anticipated new production features his fiancee, prima ballerina and RNZB principal guest artist Gillian Murphy.