Ballet Foundation Launch of Corey Baker Scholarship
Acknowledgements:
The Ballet Foundation of New Zealand
Coca Art Gallery
Jo Norris ChristchurchNZ
AntarcticaNZ
Sharon Howells School of Dance
Southern Ballet and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
I have met Cory Baker a few times now and the last time was when we were celebrating the launch of the First Dance which was danced in Antarctica with Royal New Zealand Ballet Dancer, Madeleine Graham.
Acknowledgements:
The Ballet Foundation of New Zealand
Coca Art Gallery
Jo Norris ChristchurchNZ
AntarcticaNZ
Sharon Howells School of Dance
Southern Ballet and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
I have met Cory Baker a few times now and the last time was when we were celebrating the launch of the First Dance which was danced in Antarctica with Royal New Zealand Ballet Dancer, Madeleine Graham.
To create an experience of this nature to highlight the challenges of climate change in an extreme environment that is so connected with potential impacts was very powerful to see.
After the screening and the usual questions like - how could Madeleine not freeze - she wasn’t wearing gloves was she? We learned about the segments of filming and the cleverly disguised gloves. That was when Corey told us about tonight and his passion to help young dancers with a scholarship to support their dream.
He told me it would be a great way to celebrate his birthday. We bonded instantly - Geminis together - my birthday is tomorrow.
Corey is one of those Christchurch stories we love - he grew up in Hornby, Christchurch, and now he is internationally recognised, based in the UK.
He is one of our success stories. People measure success in different ways, but in terms of courage and determination, innovation and inspiration, Corey has these in spades. He has imbued his life with the desire to follow his dreams and to make a difference to the world by sharing his sense of wonder with others.
With his love of dance, his concern for issues like climate change and of course his skill as a choreographer, Corey Baker is challenging the status quo.
And on Friday night, Corey’s choreography for Mozart’s unfinished ‘Requiem’ will be performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet at the Issac Theatre Royal. This performance will be the world premier.
But tonight it his generosity of spirit and the desire to imbue in other young dancers that same desire to follow their dreams that has led him to this point in his career that we come together to say welcome home Corey, thank you for your contribution and happy birthday.
After the screening and the usual questions like - how could Madeleine not freeze - she wasn’t wearing gloves was she? We learned about the segments of filming and the cleverly disguised gloves. That was when Corey told us about tonight and his passion to help young dancers with a scholarship to support their dream.
He told me it would be a great way to celebrate his birthday. We bonded instantly - Geminis together - my birthday is tomorrow.
Corey is one of those Christchurch stories we love - he grew up in Hornby, Christchurch, and now he is internationally recognised, based in the UK.
He is one of our success stories. People measure success in different ways, but in terms of courage and determination, innovation and inspiration, Corey has these in spades. He has imbued his life with the desire to follow his dreams and to make a difference to the world by sharing his sense of wonder with others.
With his love of dance, his concern for issues like climate change and of course his skill as a choreographer, Corey Baker is challenging the status quo.
And on Friday night, Corey’s choreography for Mozart’s unfinished ‘Requiem’ will be performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet at the Issac Theatre Royal. This performance will be the world premier.
But tonight it his generosity of spirit and the desire to imbue in other young dancers that same desire to follow their dreams that has led him to this point in his career that we come together to say welcome home Corey, thank you for your contribution and happy birthday.