Find out what’s happening in New Zealand dance news!
The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) will host ENHANCE, a three-day recreational holiday programme offering workshops in contemporary dance, hip hop, improvisation and creative composition. Taking place from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 April 2026 at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, the programme is designed for dancers aged 13 through to recent high school leavers and welcomes participants of all experience levels. Facilitated by NZSD and supported by leading hip hop and contemporary dance artists, ENHANCE aims to help young dancers discover new skills, refine movement and explore creative ideas through styles including cypher-based hip hop techniques, contemporary floorwork and elevation, improvisation tools, and movement composition. The workshops will run daily from 10am to 3.30pm, with a $50 registration fee covering all sessions. For more and to register, visit www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz/events/enhance-2026.
Already in 2026, NZSD students have celebrated a number of exciting professional opportunities, with several dancers undertaking secondments and performance placements with leading organisations and festivals including The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The New Zealand Dance Company, Footnote New Zealand Dance, the New Zealand Fringe Festival, and the Adelaide Fringe. These experiences provide valuable industry exposure, allowing students to work alongside professional artists and contribute to performances across New Zealand’s vibrant dance sector and on international stages.
Dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) will take to the international stage this April, following an invitation to perform at the prestigious International Draft Works programme presented by The Royal Ballet in London. Running from 16-18 April, at the Linbury Theatre, International Draft Works brings together emerging choreographic voices from leading ballet companies around the world. The programme offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience new works in development and gain insight into how ballet continues to evolve globally.
Representing Aotearoa New Zealand, the RNZB will present Ultra Folly, a striking contemporary work by RNZB Choreographer in Residence Sarah Foster-Sproull. Originally created for the Company in 2020, and previously performed in Tutus on Tour, Ultra Folly is a finely detailed chamber ballet that explores human connection, intimacy and restraint. “Ultra Folly reflects a time when human interaction was both essential and uncertain,” says Foster-Sproull. “The choreography explores what it means to connect – physically and emotionally – when that connection feels fragile or even forbidden.”
Four RNZB dancers will travel to London to perform the work: Principal Ana Gallardo Lobaina, Soloist Kirby Selchow, and Principals Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson and Kihiro Kusukami. Their participation highlights the strength and versatility of RNZB artists on the world stage. This London season continues RNZB’s strong track record of presenting New Zealand artistry on the world stage, offering international audiences a powerful glimpse into the innovation and depth of choreography emerging from Aotearoa.
This May, dancers from the RNZB take part in Voyages, the company’s annual choreographic development programme. Designed to support emerging voices, it provides dancers with the opportunity to step into the role of choreographer and create new work on their peers. The season will also include a new work by New Zealand choreographer Jeremy Beck, alongside pieces created by RNZB dancers. Voyages forms a key part of the RNZB’s approach to developing choreography from within the company. Participants are given time, studio space, and access to fellow dancers to explore ideas and gain practical experience in making and staging original work. The programme emphasises experimentation and process, allowing artists to test concepts and build choreographic skills in a supported environment.
Artistic Director Ty King-Wall describes the initiative as central to sustaining the artform in Aotearoa. “I see Voyages as an integral part of the choreographic development pipeline in Aotearoa New Zealand. New choreographers don’t appear out of nowhere – it is essential that they are nurtured, encouraged, and supported,” he says.
In 2026, the programme expands beyond the studio for the first time, with a public season presented at Wellington’s The Hannah Playhouse. This shift enables participating choreographers to work with additional production elements, including lighting, costume, and stage design and to present their work in a theatre setting. Through Voyages, the RNZB continues to provide a structured pathway for dancers to develop choreographic practice, contributing to the growth of new work and future creative leadership within New Zealand dance. Voyages will be presented 26 – 28 May. For tickets and further information, visit rnzb.org.nz/show/voyages-2026.
Footnote New Zealand Dance returns with the critically acclaimed Modern God by Jeremy Beck, for a Wellington return season and North Island tour. This high-powered show, straddling the realms of contemporary dance and physical theatre, delves into the intricate web of global internet culture. It’s a unique opportunity to dissect our interactions with the online world, from its absurdity and speed to its utility and potential dangers. Modern God will be presented at Circa Theatre, Wellington (14 – 23 May), Toitoi Opera House, Hastings (4 June), and Tuner Centre, Kerikeri (11 June). For tickets and more information, visit www.footnote.org.nz/events/modern-god-2026.
Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance, Wellington’s newest arts festival, is back for its third year, with more offerings than before. Featuring performance seasons, free community events, a film competition, artists in residence, there is something for everyone. The festival runs from 29 June – 5 July, and is a joint initiative curated by Footnote New Zealand Dance and presented with The Hannah Playhouse and Toi Pōneke, supported by Wellington City Council. For more, head to www.footnote.org.nz/festival-of-contemporary-dance.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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