0
All Blacks dazzled by haka ballet
Greg Ford in Aix-en-Provence | September 28, 2007 - 8:46AM
It was a sight to behold. The house lights were dimmed, the curtains drawn, and before four All Blacks sitting in the front row in Pavillon Noir, 15 lithe ballerinas, decked out in All Black jerseys and four inch stilettos, pranced around on stage for about 10 minutes doing their take on the haka.
They sat, like the good guests do and watched (without yawning once), listened as the troupe grappled with the words of Ka Mate and then clapped wildly out of a mixture of relief the Ballet Preljocaj's performance was over and true appreciation for something so out of the ordinary.
The haka homage had been a work in progress since last year when it was announced to Aix-en-Provence the team would use the small city in the south of France as their bolthole in the early stages of the world cup.
Mils Muliaina, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack and Andy Ellis were sent along to represent the team. Their faces during the performance said it all: shock gave way to awe, and admiration turned to appreciation.
Ellis added he wasn't sure what to make of it at first.
"It was different that's for sure," he said. "But it was pretty impressive."
Jack was similarly impressed.
"They put a lot of work in," he said.
Muliaina was grateful too.
"I thought it was awesome."
Especially when the team was whisked back stage for a private photo session with the troupe and then exited stage left looking mightily relieved that nobody had said the wrong thing.
French rugby great Jean Pierre Reeves attended too.
"We love the All Blacks in France," he said. "The All Blacks are rugby."
So Reeves said he wasn't surprised to see the team feted in such fashion.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive designate Steve Tew, who also attended the performance, said the incredible gesture from the artistic community of Aix was another graphic illustration of how France has embraced the team.
"It was certainly something I have never come across in all my time in rugby," he said. "I think yes my horizons have been broadened. It certainly shows this team is loved for what they have done for rugby and we thank the people of Aix for that."
Fairfax Media