DANZAttaining Visibility,Viability and Sustainability?
Creating a Dance Industry
By Raewyn Whyte
In the period since 1992, there has been steady growth and development for dance in Aoteaora New Zealand. Numbers have slowly but steadily increased to achieve a critical mass of professional practitioners now working in all areas of the dance industry, and with New Zealand-made dance works being seen around the world.
Over the years, a series of national industry conferences have focused on dance industry needs. In 1992 at Flock House, the industry identifi ed twelve areas of concern, primary amongst them being the need to establish a service organisation to provide infrastructural support for dance throughout New Zealand. Subsequently, Dance Aotearoa New Zealand
(DANZ) was established in 1993 in Wellington, with other regional offices to be established over time.
At Future Moves 2001, increased visibility, viability and sustainability were identified as the key to a healthy future for dance in New Zealand. Independent dance practitioners were unanimous that their viability depended on establishing a UK-type “dance house” to support the independent sector with access to shared management, production and promotion resources, rather than continuing to duplicate such services group by group. Planning towards establishment of a “dance house” in Auckland began in 2003 but has not yet succeeded.
Read full article (Iss.34)Attaining Visibility Viability and Sustainability