Scope of NZ Dance Industry And Your Place In It

The Dance Industry has three sectors:

Professional sector – dance companies, professional dancers and choreographers, associated producers, managers, marketers, venue and technical people, teachers of dance of diverse genre, dance businesses (including studios, commercial and tourist dance), dance project development coordinators, dance health specialists, writers and researchers.

Education sector – dance in the education system (primary, secondary and tertiary) and the training of people in the Dance Industry.

Community, recreation and social dance (participation) sector – people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds participating in the wide genre of dance in Aotearoa New Zealand, for expression of identity, wellbeing, health and fitness, fun, recreation and spiritual, cultural and creative expression.

Inter-sector relationships

There are important relationships between these three sectors in such areas as audience development, training, skill development and nurturing talent. The community and education sectors nurture early dance/arts experience including the establishment of values and attitudes. There are many cross sector work opportunities that enable a full and life long career in the Dance Industry. Dance practitioners and learning institutions are now realising this potential.

Through the three sectors, dance has a major role to play in New Zealand’s health, identity, culture, artistic expression and economic development.

Planning a career in dance?

Many of our successful dancers are multi skilled and work in different areas of the industry.
The list below will give you an idea of the scope of the Dance Industry in New Zealand and your place in it.

FUNDING / GOVERNMENT
Creative New Zealand
Ministry of Education
Creative Communities
City Councils
Government policy/legislation
Charitable trusts & local funding

INDUSTRY & SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

DANZ - Dance Aotearoa New Zealand
NZADT - NZ Association of Dance Teachers
Syllabus organisations eg. RAD, ISTD
Festivals - Tempo (Auckland), The Body Festival (Christchurch), Dance Wellington Festival
Genre organisations eg. Te Matatini,
Dancesport

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
Companies
Career dancers
Choreographers
Commercial dance
Cultural tourism

STUDIOS / COMMUN ITY
Recreational dance
Genre/cultural dance
Professional teachers/studios
Associated arts – drama, circus, music, physical theatre
Studio students

EDUCATION
Tertiary educators/tutors
Ministry of Education - Arts/PE Curriculum development
Academic dance research
Primary/Secondary teachers
Performances & workshops in schools
Tertiary students

THERAPY & HEALTH
Dance health specialists
Fitness professionals

ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES
Publications - Writers, Photographers, Publishers, Reviewers
Exhibitions - Curators
Film
New technologies - Multimedia/web
Lighting, Technical
Costumes, Props
Designers
Managers, Producers
Publicists
Producers

RETAIL
Dance shoes/ clothing
Dance supplies
Costume design

Training Opportunities

The following Institutions provide dance diplomas, degrees or other qualifications:

New Zealand School of Dance (Te Whaea) - National Diploma of Dance
UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts - BPSA (Major in Contemporary Dance)
AUT University - BEd (Dance)
University of Auckland - BA (Dance Studies), MA (Dance Studies), PhD
Otago University Physed School - BEd, MEd, MA, PhD
Dunedin Teachers College - BEd
Kahurangi
Waikato University
Whitireia Performance Centre - BAppA (Performing Arts)

Contact DANZ for help and advice - phone (04) 801 9885 or email danz@danz.org.nz