Find out what’s happening in the New Zealand dance scene this month!
The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) 2016 Graduation Season is fast approaching in what promises to be an outstanding variety of performances. The programme of works will showcase the efforts of an array of influential choreographers, and the hard work of the students and tutors. Attendees should prepare themselves for an exhilarating evening featuring a number of premieres and the work of acclaimed choreographers from New Zealand and abroad.
Highlights include the all-male work He Taonga by Māori choreographers Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal of Okareka Dance Company. Also, Amber Haines from Australia’s Dancenorth has choreographed an equally powerful piece with the female students. Significantly, the “ballet twins” Jiří and Otto Bubeníček are visiting the School this month to collaborate with the students on a new work for NZSD Graduation. Having recently completed a work for the Royal Ballet School at Covent Garden, Jiří’s choreography for this new work will be enhanced by his brother Otto’s costume design. For more on the NZSD Graduation Season, 16-26 November 2016, visit www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz.
NZSD students Hosanna Ball and Song Teng. Photo by Stephen A’Court.
NZSD contemporary dance students can be seen performing Malia Johnston’s Miniatures at this year’s Tempo Dance Festival in Auckland. Miniatures has been re-worked with the NZSD students, allowing them to re-investigate the same provocations as the original cast, bringing their own movement and interpretations to the work. It plays Tuesday 11 October, 6pm. For tickets, visit www.tempo.co.nz/calendar/eventdetail/218/miniatures.
In partnership with Tempo, Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) will present the How to Hustle seminar programme on October 14 at Q Theatre, Auckland. How to Hustle is a new platform which aims to help dancers realise their career by providing insider tips from some of the most experienced people in the arts industry. The industry experts will share their thoughts and experiences, provide summaries of the most important elements to remember, and resources to reinforce the knowledge with a Q&A to follow. The guest speakers are Rose Campbell (Senior Arts Adviser – Dancer, Interarts and Multidisciplinary, Creative New Zealand), James Wilson (Chief Executive, Q Theatre), Sally Woodfield (Publicist, SWPR) and Olivia Taouma (Arts and Culture [Pasifika], Auckland Council).
On 21 and 22 November, DANZ will host the National Dance Hui: Together/Moving Forward. Held at TAPAC Performing Arts Centre, Auckland, the Hui is an opportunity for dancers and dance makers to “discuss, share, debate, learn, challenge, reflect, participate and contribute” to the NZ dance community. The two-day event will cover four key themes:
Audience First: Growing a fan base/Production of dance in New Zealand,
Collaboration is Gold: Working with others/Independent artist network,
Facts and Myths: Being realistic/Knowing how the arts and dance industry operates, and
The Money-Go-Round: The funding game/Sustained development for choreographers.
For tickets and more info, click here.
This year’s Short + Sweet Dance festival award winners were:
Judges’ Choice Award: Obsess, choreographed by Elijah Kennar
People’s Choice Award: WOMB-MEN, choreographed by Xavier Breed
The Wallace Arts Trust Outstanding Emerging Artist Award: Taitanyk Toniu
The Wallace Arts Trust Emerging Production Award: Hip Hop Hysteria – Exploring Stereotypes, choreographed by Jazmine Cox
The Wallace Arts Trust Highly Commended Award: Amelia Chong and Elijah Kennar
Tempo Short + Sassy Award by Tempo Dance Festival NZ: Elijah Kennar
Dance Aotearoa New Zealand Award: Xavier Breed
Standout Female Performer Award: Amelia Chong
Standout Male Performer Award: Villa Lemanu
Curator’s Choice Award: Kisha September
Innovative Choreography Award: The Power of Resonance, choreographed by Grace Woollett
Production Design Award: Wonky, choreographed by Shani Dickins
Risk Taker Award: Shroud, choreographed by Leah Carell
By Rain Francis of Dance Informa.
Photo (top): NZSD student Tiana Lung. Photo by Stephen A’Court.
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