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DANZ is seeking a Dance Advisor for the Auckland region. Based in their Auckland office, the primary purpose of this role is to manage, deliver and review services in conjunction with the DANZ team. The role would suit an experienced dance practitioner or Arts Manager with wide experience of the dance industry.
This is a fixed term full time contract for 12 months. Complete the application form by 5pm, Wednesday 18 March and email to danz@danz.org.nz or post to PO Box 9885, Wellington 6141. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed the week of 30 March, with a start date to be agreed. This role is becoming available as, after almost 10 years of service to DANZ, Susan Jordan will be moving on to pursue a new journey in dance. New to the DANZ team is Leah McLean, who begins this month as Communications Coordinator.
Acclaimed New Zealand choreographer Douglas Wright premieres his new work The Kiss Inside at Auckland’s SKYCITY Theatre on Thursday 16 April. The first full-length work since Wright’s 2011 piece rapt (which was performed in Auckland and The Netherlands), The Kiss Inside is a kinetic meditation on the search for ecstasy in our human culture. With a soundtrack including classical Sufi music, Patti Smith and J.S Bach, the work will be performed by five dancers – Sarah Jayne Howard, Tara Soh, Luke Hanna, Craig Bary and Simone Lapka.
Unitec Dance’s Taniora Motutere. Photo courtesy of Unitec Dance.
“These five dancers each have an exceptionally rare charisma and are at the very peak of their craft,” Wright says. “I’ve loved working with them – watching them dance inspires me.”
The Kiss Inside marks a continuation of a 15-year choreographer-dancer collaboration with Melbourne-based dancer Sarah-Jayne Howard. “She is my muse and she’s a joy to work with. Sarah-Jayne also introduced me to Tara Soh and it’s been a pleasure to discover her as a dancer.”
The Kiss Inside is commissioned by the New Zealand Festival.
AUCKLAND: SKYCITY Theatre| Thursday 16 & Friday 17 April 8pm | Book tickets at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz
WANAKA: Lake Wanaka Centre | Tuesday 21 April 8pm | Book tickets at www.festivalofcolour.co.nz
DUNEDIN: Regent Theatre | Friday 24 April 8pm | Book tickets at TicketDirect 0800 4 TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz
NELSON: Theatre Royal | Tuesday 28 April 8pm | Book tickets at TicketDirect 0800 4 TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Congratulations to Unitec Dance graduates Melana Khabazi, Josie Archer and Xin Ji, who will be working in Footnote Dance’s Choreo-Co 2015, performing works by Lucy Marinkovich and Claire O’Neill. Third year student Taniora Motutere (on secondment) and graduate Aloalii Tapu (on internship), will join graduate Christopher Ofanoa (apprentice) with the New Zealand Dance Company. Another graduate, Perri Exeter has been doing exceptional work as dance teacher at Rutherford High School, with students placed at the top of the New Zealand Scholarship results every year since its inception in 2011.
Unitec Dance has also been well represented in the 2015 Auckland Fringe festival. Featured students/grads include Sam Wood-Rawnsley, Jesse Quaid, Amy Mauvan, Grace Woolett, Jahra “Rager” Wasasala and Kerry Wallis.
Graduates Julia Milsom and Eric Viedma of Movement Art Practice present M.A.P Research Series 2015, in collaboration with www.independancenz.org. MAP Research Series provides research and development time for independent artists and will be coordinating platforms for sharing the research through Movement Lab classes, online platforms and Open Performances. Movement Lab series will be run by Sarah Foster-Sproull, Sean Curham, Zahra Killeen-Chance, Louise Potiki Bryant and Claire O’Neil.
New Zealand School of Dance is looking for an experienced and inspirational contemporary dance tutor to join the NZSD’s contemporary dance faculty. The position will be full-time, in Wellington New Zealand from January 2016, principally teaching students of the full-time course, with occasional teaching on outreach programmes. The tutor will be responsible for: Planning, coordination and realisation of a teaching programme. Ensuring high standards and delivery of quality education. Coaching, mentoring and evaluation of students. Contributing to course content, including allied subjects. Development of the course and school’s profile and networks. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to spend two weeks as a guest tutor at NZSD during 2015. Outline your availability for this in your application. To make an expression of interest send a cover letter and CV by 5pm Wednesday 1 April 2015 to dance@nzschoolofdance.ac.nz.
Photo (top): Unitec Dance’s Aloalii Tapu pictured with Monique Westerdaal. Photo by Over the Rainbow Photography.
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