Keith Woods via Alexander Turnbull Library
Poul Gnatt and RNZB foundation member Julie Barker on Bethells Beach in 1954, one year after establishing the company.
A devotion to ballet led Danish dancer Poul Gnatt to establish a company in New Zealand. His legacy lives on in every performance, but he remains one of New Zealand’s unsung heroes. Brittney Deguara writes. Behind every Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) rehearsal and performance is the legacy of the Danish dancer who made it all possible. In 1953, Poul Gnatt, a principal dancer for the Danish Royal Ballet, turned his love of dance into something for all New Zealanders to enjoy. He established the RNZB at a time when pursuing a career in dance in New Zealand was almost impossible.