FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
One month to prepare your body for the Body Festival 2009!
The Body Festival 09 (25 September to 11 October) offers 16 days of jam packed dance activity, ranging from a array of
amateur and professional dance performances guaranteed to delight and amaze audiences, as well as our much loved
have-a-go dance workshops which will inspire you to move your body!
We kick off the festival again with another whopper – and it’s smokin’! Grab your Stetson, cowboy boots and checked
shirt and mosey on down to Victoria Square on Friday 25th September to lend your legs to our world’s largest line dance
attempt. Revel in sounds of David Bowie and Mick Jagger’s classic dance anthem, ‘Dancing in the Street,’ as we slide
along to our own, especially commissioned, dance moves - ‘The Body Festival Slide’ choreographed by Mary
Stanley-Shepherd of the Cathedral City Line Dancers. So come on all you cowboy and cowgirls, strut your stuff down to
Victoria Square and join in the celebrations as we go for the record. Have you got the fastest feet in the West?
Other festival highlights include:
The world premiere debut season of Southern Lights Dance Company: a newly created contemporary dance company generously
supported by Creative New Zealand and the Christchurch Arts Centre Artist in Residency Scheme. Be one of the first in
the world to experience this splendid night of dance, showcasing the collaborative efforts of some of our country’s
finest dancers and choreographers.
Experience the powerful emotion of Tama Ma: the critically acclaimed dance work featuring dancers Taane Mete and Taiaroa
Royal as they explore the story of two men who travel from boyhood to manhood; following the real life tale of love,
life, joy and sorrow.
Back of the Bus dance show, performed by Wellington based Java Dance Company, offers the more adventurous audience
member an escape from the daily grind of life. Join the dancers as they defy gravity, stall time and get the heart
racing in this exciting thrill packed ride and dance adventure – and all this on a bus!
Experience the mastery of critically acclaimed dance performer Vivek Kinra as he unfolds the mysteries of the Indian
classical dance form Bharata Natyam.
Challenge your perceptions about dance (and dancers!) by attending one of our Jolt Dance Company performances; delight
in the magic and unique qualities of a jolt production as they thought-provokingly challenge perspectives about
disability and contemporary dance.
You’ve watched Dancing With The Stars, now experience the real thing and come watch the Body DanceSport championships on
Saturday 10th October, MC’d by dancer extraordinaire Aaron Gilmore. Witness the real glitz and glamour of a Ballroom and
Latin DanceSport competition; be wowed by a dazzling floor show display featuring reigning Australian Professional Latin
Champions David Byrnes and Karla Gerbes.
Our annual have-a-go workshops give you the chance to try a range of dance of different dance styles that you’ve always
wanted to try, but never got around to doing. Some 2009 offerings include: Belly dance, Salsa, Wu Tao, Static Trapeze,
Hip Hop, Modern Jive, Bharata Natyam, Charleston, Ceroc®, Flamenco, Tango, Kapa Haka and many more.
So keep your eye out for dance all over Christchurch and join us in celebrating what promises to be a fantastic 16 days
of dynamic dance events in the Garden City!
ENDS