Dazzling New Zealand children’s book to become a sparkling new RNZB production for kids of all ages!

A collaboration between award-winning New Zealand publishers Huia, 2024 Oceania winner of the Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publisher of the Year, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB). Children’s book writers Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan’s magnificent Dazzlehands, published in 2023 in English and te reo Maori, is being adapted into a new ballet.

The Cow says “moo”, the Chicken says “cluck” and the Pig says… “Dazzlehands!” As hard as the farmer tries, Pig won’t go “oink”. Instead, Pig gets all the animals moving to phrases like, “Cross hands, floss hands, work it like a boss hands. Bursting with the razzle, gotta liberate these dazzlehands.”

Choreographed by RNZB Principal Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson for six RNZB dancers, Dazzlehands’ creative team includes Costume Designer Victoria Gridley (Tane and the Kiwi), Composer William Philipson (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, High Tide Don’t Hide), and Creative Director Lauren Byrne, who is also the RNZB’s Education and Community Engagement Manager.

Dazzlehands will be 40 minutes long and is appropriate for ages three and over. The

Spinoff described the book as “…a bold, funny, cool farmyard flip that is a riot to read aloud.”

On turning this ingenious tale into a ballet, Guillemot-Rodgerson says, “I am thrilled to be turning Dazzlehands into a moving and grooving ballet bash. The story dances off the pages; it feels like the authors were choreographing a dance from the very beginning. I am so lucky to be able to work with this exceptionally talented creative team, and our amazing dancers, to bring tamariki on a journey into how fun ballet can be."

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