Jon Trimmer

Sir Jon "Jonty" Charles Trimmer KNZM MBE (18 September 1939 – 26 October 2023) was a New Zealand ballet dancer. He performed with the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958 and 1959 before leaving New Zealand to study and perform in the United Kingdom. He and his wife, Jacqui Trimmer, also a ballet dancer, returned to dance in New Zealand over the years, as well as dancing in the Australian and Royal Danish Ballets.

Trimmer in 2013

Early life

Trimmer was born on 18 September 1939 in Petone, 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:

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.

Other work

Trimmer played the part of Edgar Marwick in Peter Sharp's 1986 movie Undercover Gang.[1] Also in 1986, he appeared in the TV series Fireraiser and was nominated for the best actor award.[2] In 2002 and 2003, he performed with Helen Moulder in her play Meeting Karpovsky.

Trimmer is patron of the Centastage theatrical company[2] as well as Te Raukura ki Kapiti[3]

Honours and awards

In the 1974 New Year Honours, Trimmer was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to ballet.[4] In 1982, he was awarded a Fulbright Cultural Grant.[5] In 1991, he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for services to entertainment and dance.

In the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, Trimmer was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to ballet.[6][7]

Personal life

Trimmer met his wife Jacqui when they were both dancers in the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958. He was 18 at the time.[8] In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jacqui Trimmer was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to ballet.[9]

He has danced with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.[8]

On 26 October 2023, Trimmer died aged 84, following a fight with cancer.[10]

References
  1. IMDB
  2. Centastage patron Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Doors open to Te Raukura - Kāpiti's Performing Arts Centre - Kāpiti Coast District Council". kapiticoast.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. "No. 46163". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 1 January 1974. p. 37.
  5. NZETC
  6. NZ Ballet Staff information Archived 1 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Queen's Birthday honours list 1999 (including Niue)". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  8. Christchurch City Library
  9. "No. 51367". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 11 June 1988. p. 34.
  10. "Mainstay of New Zealand ballet Sir Jon Trimmer dies aged 84". RNZ. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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