Our Stars of Ballet

Short Film (Full Length) – 1960

Our Stars of Ballet, a short documentary from ballet teacher turned NFU director Kathleen O'Brien, tracks the careers of New Zealand ballet icons Rowena Jackson and Alexander Grant, who both achieved success as principal dancers for major ballet companies in England. The film follows their visit to Wellington with the Royal Ballet in 1959; Jackson picnics by the harbour with dancer husband Philip Chatfield, while Grant visits Mt Victoria. The film ends with Jackson performing her famed multiple fouttés en tournant, for which she held the world record in 1959.

He would achieve world fame as the leading male character dancer of the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. Funster, rogue, villain … and ballet dancer, he has had more leading roles created for him in the last ten years than any other male dancer in British ballet.
– Narrator on Alexander Grant