DANZThe Highland Dance Company of New Zealand
by Nick Watson
The concept was to create opportunities for top-level senior dancers to perform together in a non-competitive environment, to promote and showcase highland dance and to develop a repertoire that was innovative and inspiring, for both the dancers and the viewing audiences. Julie Hawke from Christchurch and Robyn Simmons of Blenheim were appointed as the Co-Directors of the dance company.
Auditions were held nationwide for the 32 dancer positions in the company during January 2011. The Co-Directors then set about choreographing two dance works.
The first work, entitled NZ Dancing Feet, is choreographed to a specially commissioned composition by NZ champion bagpiper, Jamie Hawke.
The second work, The Thistle and the Fern, explores the story of the Scots immigrating to New Zealand and reflects the development and preservation of the Celtic culture in New Zealand.
Read the full article (Iss. 32)Reeling with the Scots