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Whether through judicious planning or serendipity, Dance Plant Collective’s new work Structure had its premiere on International Dance Day, the global celebration on 29 April of the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the “father” of modern ballet. IDD’s stated purpose is to “revel in the universality of this art form,... Keep Reading
A decade of boundary-breaking contemporary dance culminates in ‘Stage of Being’ by The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC). In what they describe as a “full circle moment”, the company’s powerful new double bill sees dance-makers who have a rich history with NZDC create once again with ‘LittleBits and AddOns’ from founding member... Keep Reading
He Huia Kaimanawa can be loosely translated as a “commitment to an important topic or cause” or as something “highly prized” or “treasured”. In their new work for the Auckland Arts Festival, presented at the refurbished Te Pou Theatre, choreographer Bianca Hyslop and designer Rowan Pierce have defined Te Reo Māori as one such... Keep Reading
Three live performance works account for half of the dance offering at this year’s Auckland Arts Festival (AAF), with two international productions (SandSong by Bangarra Dance Theatre, and Revisor) and one local (He Huia Kaimanawa by Bianca Hyslop and Rowan Pierce). Widely celebrated and awarded choreographer Crystal Pite founded Canadian... Keep Reading
LIMITS by Bonnie Curtis Projects is billed as dance and comedy, although the performance presents as physical theatre/performance art. An introspective and confident work, Curtis appears as the character “Grotesque Creature” in her self-described “stereotypically hot body”. LIMITS explores Grotesque Creature’s attempts to strive... Keep Reading
Most people would acknowledge that completing a three-year training course in a discipline like dance is hard work. But for this cohort of 15 graduating Unitec contemporary dance students, their three years of Covid-interrupted dance training involved large chunks of online learning – making their achievement even more impressive. They... Keep Reading
In 2022 The New Zealand School of Dance is celebrating its 55th anniversary, exclusively featuring works by Distinguished Graduates, alumni and current teachers. Performance Season 2022 is divided into alternating programmes; All Loughlan Prior Programme (classical ballet stream students) and Contemporary Dance Programme. Performances showcase... Keep Reading
In her new work for the New Zealand Dance Company: What They Said, Australian choreographer Jo Lloyd uses subtle humour to create her exposition on the impact that words can have on people. It is an exuberant romp of a work, performed by a sterling group of dancers – the company augmented to seven - who parade, preen and pose in an... Keep Reading
Half | Life premiered at the Q Theatre as part of the opening of the 2022 Tempo Dance Festival: Te Rerenga o Tere. The performance was presented by Lo|Co Arts – a group of mixed-genre artists and the brain child of choreographer and director Loughlan Prior and composer and director Claire Cowan— expertly choreographed by Loughlan and... Keep Reading
Cinderella Royal New Zealand Ballet Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre Tamaki Makaurau Auckland August 10, 2022 Reviewed by Marianne Schultz In 1938 the esteemed British ballet critic and director of the Royal Ballet school, Arnold Haskell, wrote:‘...we are interested in seeing new dancers who express their own minds and... Keep Reading
FOR BY FOUR New Zealand School of Dance 26 May 2022 , Bats Theatre Wellington Reviewed by Brigitte Knight Choreography: Kit Reilly, Brydie Colquhoun, Olivia McGregor, Toa Paranihi Lighting Design: Elekis Teirney Set Design: Max de Roy, Roxie Black Costume Design: Anne de Geus In 2022 The New Zealand School of Dance is celebrating its... Keep Reading
Disrupted by pandemic restrictions and uncertainty, The New Zealand School of Dance held an informal studio showing to mark the graduation season in 2020. This year, however, the School is able to produce a fully-realised performance season once again; a credit to the resilience and adaptability of its staff and students. An extended,... Keep Reading
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Walk With Me is a stunning, thought-provoking and visceral journey. Director and choreographer Tyler Carney, and videographer Joshua Faleatua collaborated to create this three-part reflection on nature, human interconnection, and human obligation through exploring time, movement, music, and cinematography. Keep Reading
Magnificent Remains is a contemporary dance theatre work that explores the idea of surrealism, taking inspiration from surrealist pioneers and artists, delving into the potential of the creative mind and body. It’s a powerful piece that blurs the lines of black and white and leaves you wanting to free your subconscious. Keep Reading
I don’t know much about dance. I can’t manage much more than twitch myself and while steeped in the world of music I have not actively attended ballet or dance in an any form. So, I was curious but not at all sure what to expect when I suddenly had the opportunity to take my daughter along to see the recent Royal New Zealand Ballet... Keep Reading