Jon Trimmer


Sir Jon Charles Trimmer , also known as Jonty Trimmer, is a New Zealand ballet dancer who was with the New Zealand Ballet Company in 1958 and 1959 and from 1970 to the present.

Early life

Jonty 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:
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. Also in 1986, he appeared in the TV series Fireraiser and was nominated for the best actor award. In 2002 and 2003, he performed with Helen Moulder in her play Meeting Karpovsky.
Trimmer is patron of the Centastage theatrical company

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. In 1982, he was awarded a Fulbright Cultural Grant. 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.

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.
He has danced with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.