TV Exhilarates Dancer

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 3

TV Exhilarates Dancer

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 16. All television was entertainment, said Mr Bryan Ashbridge, a former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, who returned to Auckland on Saturday to join the New Zealand (Broadcasting Corporation. “Talking only as a vlev ar at present, I think that even an interview should be conducted in such a way that it holds the interest of those watching it,” he said. Mr Ashbridge said he knew very little about New Zealand television programmes, but he had his own ideas on how much emphasis there should be on the arts. An Aucklander who has partnered many world famous ballerinas, Mr Ashbridge made his last ballet appearance in July. Since then he has completed a course at the

8.8. C. television training centre. “I found the television medium exciting and exhilarating,” said Mr Ashbridge. “My theatre experience was a great help in my training and I am sure it will be useful in the future.” Mr Ashbridge is not certain of the precise nature of his new job but assumes it will be either the production or direction of programmes. He decided to bow out of ballet while he was still at the top and while he was still.

young enough to be interested in a new career. “I felt that I had done everything I set out to do in 1947,” he said. “I have danced nearly every role there is to dance and partnered every British ballerina.” Mr Ashbridge said the greatest thrill of his ballet career had been sharing a dressing room with Nicolai Fadeychev, premier dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet at the Helsinki Festival. “Fadeychev is a fabulous dancer,” he said.