Jon Trimmer
Sir Jon Charles Trimmer, KNZM, MBE (born 18 September 1939), also known as Jonty Trimmer, is a New Zealand ballet dancer who was with the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958 and 1959 and from 1970 to the present (2007).
Early life
Jonty Trimmer was born on 18 September 1939 in Petone, New Zealand. He started learning ballet at age 12 at his sister's ballet school.
In 1958 he joined the New Zealand Ballet Company where he worked until he left to study overseas.
Overseas experience
While overseas between 1959 and 1970 he:
- attended the Royal Ballet School from 1960 to 1961
- toured with the Sadler's Wells Ballet from 1962 to 1964
- danced with The Australian Ballet from 1965 to 1966
- danced with the Royal Danish Ballet from 1968 to 1969
Dancing with Royal New Zealand Ballet
In 1970 he returned to New Zealand to help revive the New Zealand Ballet and became the principal male dancer in that company. He has been with the company, now known as the Royal New Zealand ballet since then.
Among the many roles he has danced were Petrouchka and the role of Albrecht in Giselle. He now dances character parts such as Captain Hook in Peter Pan.
Awards and other work
- He was awarded the MBE for his services to ballet in 1974.[1]
- In 1982 he was awarded a Fulbright Cultural Grant.[2]
He played the part of Edgar Marwick in Peter Sharp's 1986 movie Undercover Gang.[3]
In 1986 he played in the TV series Fireraiser and was nominated for the best actor award.[4]
He is patron of the Centastage theatrical company[4]
He received a knighthood in 1999 for services to ballet.[5]
In 2002 and 2003 he performed with Helen Moulder in her play Meeting Karpovsky.
Trivia
Trimmer met his wife Jacqui when they were both dancers in the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958. He was 18 at the time.[1]
He has danced with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Christchurch City Library
- ^ NZETC
- ^ IMDB
- ^ a b Centastage patron
- ^ NZ Ballet Staff information Archived 1 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine