Unitec hosts world famous Beijing dancers

16 June 2010
For Immediate Release

Unitec New Zealand hosts world famous Beijing dancers

New Zealand audiences will get a chance to witness a breathtaking fusion of western and eastern contemporary dance styles with the arrival the world famous Beijing Dance Academy in Auckland on Friday, 18 June.

The Beijing Dance Academy can boast Li Cunxin of Mao's Last Dancer fame and Hollywood actress Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, Rush Hour 2) among their past graduates.

The Beijing Dance Academy will perform Marks: two shows in Western Contemporary Dance Style and Chinese Contemporary Dance. The first show on 23 June is called Contemporary Dance Work Collection and the second show on 24 June is Spirit of Chi - Chinese Contemporary Dance.
Complimented by dramatic lighting, spectacular backdrops and beautiful costumes, the performances co-presented by the Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Centre at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, will be a spectacle to behold.

The Beijing Dance Academy are being hosted by Unitec New Zealand. It is a continuation of the close relationship Unitec has with the Beijing Dance Academy. Enhancing that bond will be an 18-minute performance by dancers studying at Unitec’s Department of Performing and Screen Arts, which is being incorporated into the programme of the Beijing performances on both nights. The Unitec dance performance work called Colony explores themes of young women finding their individuality and freedom of expression, and is choreographed by renowned New Zealand dance choreographer, Michael Parmenter.

“Unitec is delighted to host the Beijing Dance Academy, China’s premiere contemporary dance training institution, with which we enjoy close ties,” says Head of Department for Unitec’s Performing and Screen Arts, Athina Tsoulis.
Tsoulis says this is a wonderful opportunity for New Zealanders to view the exceptional calibre of the Beijing Academy’s current crop of dance students and graduates.

“I would encourage the public to seize this unique opportunity,” she adds. “It is first time that they will perform in Auckland. The talented dancers and creative team will give audiences a chance to appreciate their creativity and the latest dance technique foundations of China’s top dancing graduates. The 90 minute show is a showcase of fine modern dancing and the fusion of Chinese elements and western styles.”
“The show will give audiences a fresh look at the new and emerging Chinese performing arts style and development,” adds Jim He, tour organiser and chairman of the Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Centre.

The Beijing delegation of 29 dancers and administrators includes a former Unitec dance graduate Zhang Ping, who now teaches at the Beijing Dance Academy in China. He will be accompanying the dancers and act as a translator.
According to Charene Griggs, dance curriculum leader at Unitec, it is great to see a former student return to Unitec, adding there have been other exchanges with students from the Beijing Dance Academy coming to study at Unitec. The visit will look to strengthen those ties and expand on the student exchange programme. Talks will take place between Unitec and Beijing officials at the Oakridge House next Monday, 21 June. The Beijing dancers will attend the dance and theatre performances at The Market on Friday as part of their visit, getting a taste of Unitec’s live performance student talent. The Market, organised and hosted by the Department of Performing and Screen Arts, is open to the public and gets underway today, Wednesday at 6pm with gold coin entry to the venues at Building 6 and 7 at Unitec’s Mt Albert campus, entry via Gate 1.

The Beijing delegation will also be taken on a tour of the Unitec Mt Albert campus with the students taking part in dance classes and training with Unitec dance students. The delegation will be officially welcomed at a VIP cocktail function to be held prior to the second show on 24 June at the Bruce Mason Centre.
The Beijing delegation will be officially farewelled next week Friday, 25 June with the dancers being presented certificates at a ceremony, co-organised by Unitec International.

Two performances only!
* Wed, 23 June 7:30pm
* Thu, 24 June 7:30pm.
Bruce Mason Centre, The Promenade, Takapuna, North Shore City.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster at (09) 970 9700 or http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/browse?category=12&root=10002&rdc_select=n1095&dma=&type=selected&tm_l . Conditions apply.

ENDS/

© Scoop Media