Ballet companies that toured New Zealand in the 1940s and 1950s presented programmes which ranged from the conservative to the avant garde. Two members of the Australian-based Borovansky Ballet Company are shown here performing in Wellington in 1955. Set up by Edouard Borovansky in the 1930s, the company's need to maintain its audience and its relationship with theatre company J. C. Williamson meant its repertoire tended to be conservative. The British company Ballet Rambert, which toured New Zealand in 1948, was more innovative, including new English ballets in its programme.