Two New Zealand tours by the famous Ballets Russes company in the late 1930s, had a profound influence on this country's ballet history. And beyond including on artists like Rita Angus.
That's the argument Christchurch dance critic Dr Ian Lochhead is about to present, when he delivers the second Russell Kerr lecture on ballet and related arts in Wellington at 3pm Sunday at Victoria University.
Dance critic for The Press, Lochhead on Sunday delivers the lecture in honour of the late dancer and choreographer.
Ian says his decade long research into his topic of choice started when he came across a programme for the 1937 Ballets Russes tour, in a box of old magazines.
