The fashion and culture website Thread reports that Larry Keigwin's world premiere for the Royal New Zealand Ballet deserved its standing ovation:
Who knew what to expect from the second piece – described in the programme as “athletic and rigorous.” From the beginning, Larry Keigwin’s Final Dress enthralled: the curtain opened to backstage lay bare, dancers in leotards and/or semi-nude. Drawn into the dancers’ world, this was like an artistic interpretation of The Secret Lives of Dancers: their beauty, grace, strength, and skill up front and central. The audience was delighted – and a standing ovation was well deserved. Lucy Balfour was delightful in her vintage dress from Hunters and Collectors in Cuba St, drawing us in with her smile and those amazing arms.
This was a hard act to follow – and while 'Who Cares?' by the two American greats Balanchine and Gershwin was beautifully executed and again displayed Gillian Murphy’s enormous talent, we kept harking back to the astonishing, moving, sexiness of Final Dress.
NZ's TheatreView says Final Dress was the highlight of the evening:
Showing dancers behind the scenes before the performance, Larry Keigwin has created this piece on the RNZB and this clearly comes across. The personalities of the dancers are reflected in the dancing and they look the most comfortable in this work. The music is intriguing and compelling, the overall effect is immersing and the audience gets lost in it.
Here's a news clip with good footage from the final dress rehearsal of Final Dress including interviews with Keigwin and a couple of the fabulous dancers.