June Kerr (née Greenhalgh; 12 June 1932 – 29 October 2018) was an English-born New Zealand ballet dancer who danced for 11 years with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.[1][2]

June Kerr
Born
June Greenhalgh

(1932-06-12)12 June 1932
Died29 October 2018(2018-10-29) (aged 86)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Spouse
(m. 1956)

Biography

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Kerr was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, the youngest of three children. She was one of the founding members of the London-based company, Festival Ballet, which later became the English National Ballet.[3] On 8 December 1956, she married New Zealand ballet dancer Russell Kerr.[4] The following year the couple moved to New Zealand, settling in Auckland where June Kerr danced with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 1959 and 1960.[5] In 1962 Kerr and her husband moved to Wellington as Kerr's husband was appointed director of the company.[1]

In the 1970s Kerr and her husband moved to Christchurch and established the Southern Ballet Theatre.[1]

Kerr died in Christchurch on 29 October 2018.[3][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "June Kerr: A lioness to the New Zealand Ballet's lion". Stuff. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Kerr, June, 1932-2018". Kerr, June, 1932-2018 | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1932. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "June Kerr — RNZB". www.rnzb.org.nz. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  4. ^ Traue, J. E., ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 162. ISBN 0-589-01113-8.
  5. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "A national company emerges". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ "June Kerr death notice". New Zealand Herald. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2021.