NZDW 2018: Celebrating Dance in all its Forms

From 21-29 April 2018 dancers and dance lovers across New Zealand will be making movement and celebrating the annual New Zealand Dance Week (NZDW).

NZDW was established by Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) in 2016 as a way to celebrate local dance talents and to get our communities moving and engaged in the diverse world of dance. It is an open-access platform aimed to raise the awareness of the art-form, to grow dance audiences and highlight the positive benefits it has on community, physical health, mental well-being and the spirit.

Dance workshops, outdoor activities, dance film screenings and showcases all across the country are just the tip of the iceberg for the 2018 event. Dance companies, choreographers, studios, schools, teachers, independent artists and recreational practitioners have participated in previous years, bringing joy to their communities and demonstrating their passion for the world to see.

“NZDW is an exciting platform that anyone can participate in and help promote. Dance is a powerful force that moves, inspires and transforms lives. From contemporary, to ballet, to swing, to hip hop, to Latin, to siva, to haka, the list goes on,” says DANZ Chief Executive Anton Carter. “We want to encourage people to find a way to join the celebrations in 2018 and be a part of the growing movement in elevating the wonders of dance in Aotearoa to the world.”

People from all backgrounds can be a part of NZDW and there is a multitude of ways to be involved. From hosting dance workshops, curating pop-up performances, dance flash mobs, studio open days, to attending a performance or workshop, to simply just using #nzdw2018 in any social media activity. The smallest things are vital in helping to grow dance in New Zealand.

Dani Miller, director of Bay of Plenty Performing Arts in Mt Maunganui participated in the 2017 event. Miller says, “NZDW is a great platform for New Zealand dancers of all ages and genres to share their work with the community and for the community to get involved in dance. We participated in the Tauranga Dance-o-Mat event in 2017 and it was so nice to see such a range of performers entertaining the CBD during their lunch break. We also held a give it a go dance workshop resulting in over 60 local youngsters being able to experience dance.”

DANZ will be hosting the official NZDW launch in Christchurch on 21 April. For more information about NZDW you can visit danz.org.nz/New+Zealand+Dance+Week  or contact DANZ on 04 801 9885 / danz@danz.org.nz. If you already have a great idea to show your support for NZDW you can let DANZ know here https://goo.gl/forms/Pv7b5NFPQMWjpG9m2