Jon Trimmer
Encyclopedia
Sir Jon Charles Trimmer, KNZM
, MBE
(born 18 September 1939) is a New Zealand
ballet dancer who has been with the New Zealand Ballet Company
in 1958-59 and 1970 to the present (2007).
, 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.
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.
He played the part of Edgar Marwick in Peter Sharp
's 1986 movie Undercover Gang.
In 1986 he played in the TV series Fireraiser and was nominated for the best actor award.
He is patron
of the Centastage theatrical company
He received a knighthood in 1999 for services to ballet.
In 2002 and 2003 he performed with Helen Moulder
in her play Meeting Karpovsky.
He has danced with Margot Fonteyn
and Rudolf Nureyev
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 18 September 1939) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
ballet dancer who has been with the New Zealand Ballet Company
Royal New Zealand Ballet
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is based in Wellington, New Zealand.The Royal New Zealand Ballet is a company of 32 dynamic dancers, performing an eclectic repertoire of outstanding dance, for national and international audiences, whilst continuing to build a style that is ultimately unique to the...
in 1958-59 and 1970 to the present (2007).
Early life
Trimmer was born on 18 September 1939 in PetonePetone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
, 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 SchoolRoyal Ballet SchoolThe Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
from 1960 to 1961 - Toured with the Sadler's Wells BalletRoyal Ballet, LondonThe Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
from 1962 to 1964. - Danced with the Australian Ballet from 1965 to 1966
- Danced with Royal Danish BalletRoyal Danish BalletThe Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
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.
- In 1982 he was awarded a Fullbright Cultural GrantFulbright ProgramThe Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
.
He played the part of Edgar Marwick in Peter Sharp
Peter Sharp
Peter Sharp is an Australian professional rugby league coach. He is currently the assistant coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Australia's National Rugby League....
's 1986 movie Undercover Gang.
In 1986 he played in the TV series Fireraiser and was nominated for the best actor award.
He is patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of the Centastage theatrical company
He received a knighthood in 1999 for services to ballet.
In 2002 and 2003 he performed with Helen Moulder
Helen Moulder
-Biography:Helen Moulder was born in Brightwater, Nelson, New Zealand in 1947. However she began her professional career in the UK in 1974, singing in musicals and pantomime and spending a year with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. In 1977 she returned to New Zealand where she has worked for...
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.He has danced with Margot Fonteyn
Margot Fonteyn
Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias, DBE , was an English ballerina of the 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time...
and Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
.