Rowena Jackson Retirement Village
Each Ryman village is named in honour of a Kiwi or Aussie trailblazer: Anthony Wilding, Lady Diana Isaac, Evelyn Page. They pushed further and set the bar high for others to aspire to. In creating communities that challenge the expectations of ageing, Ryman villages are also setting the bar high. They’re demonstrating that a retirement lifestyle brimming with new experiences, connections and fulfilment is something we should aspire to. Our Kiwi and Aussie namesakes represent the measure of inspiration, while Ryman villages represent the measure of retirement living.
Rowena Jackson (1926)
Prima ballerina Rowena Jackson MBE was a poised and delicate performer. Her stunning technique astounded all who had the pleasure of watching her perform. Born in Invercargill in 1926, Jackson attended high school in Auckland and soon after won the first Royal Academy of Dancing Scholarship in New Zealand.
In 1940, Jackson set a world record by performing 121 fouettés sur place (pirouette-style turns) before leaving to perform in England with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School. This saw the promising young dancer undertake intensive ballet studies where she mastered her artform and went on to join the school’s coveted ballet company at Covent Garden.
Best recognised for her assisting roles in Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, the elegant dancer had an exceptional talent for rapid pirouettes. February of 1954 saw Jackson’s promotion to the honour of prima ballerina – a title reserved for only the most outstanding dancers. Jackson then toured Europe and North America from 1954 to ‘59 with the Royal Ballet.
After marrying her husband and fellow dancer Philip Chatfield in 1958, the couple returned to New Zealand. Jackson joined the New Zealand Ballet Company, taking the role of Artistic Director. For her significant contribution to New Zealand ballet, Jackson was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to ballet in 1961.
Jackson was passionately devoted to honing her ballet skills, ensuring every move was perfect. Graceful and lithe, the dancer set an example for aspiring ballerinas by her dedication to dance, in conjunction with her resolute work ethic.
The book entitled Rowena Jackson and Philip Chatfield (Dancers of Today Series) by Cyril Swinson takes the reader into the depths of this dynamic dancing duo’s lives and their unfettered affection for ballet.
