Emerging choreographers create a sketch in dance

Click for big versionYan Hao Du and Samantha Hines appearing in Sketch, New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season 2011

Media Release
3 May 2011

Emerging choreographers create a sketch in dance

A collection of Aotearoa’s best new contemporary dance works premieres in the New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season, Sketch, 20 – 28 May at Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre in Wellington.

The New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season is an impressive collaboration combining choreography and performance by students of the New Zealand School of Dance with lighting and costume design by students from Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School and projected animation by Paul Bradley. This popular annual event is a platform for final year contemporary students of the New Zealand School of Dance to explore their own choreographic ideas. The ten most exciting concepts were selected for development and are now being fine-tuned in preparation for the opening night of Sketch on 20 May.

The students have been mentored during the dance-making process by Artistic Coordinator Victoria Colombus. Victoria is a graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance and has established a successful dance career in Australasia and Europe. Other artists have been brought in to provide feedback including dramaturg Salesi Le’ota, choreographer and Artistic Director of WOW Malia Johnston and choreographer Ross McCormack, recently returned from Belgium where he danced with internationally recognised company Les Ballet C de la B.

Click for big version
Gareth Okan and James Pham appearing in Sketch, New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season 2011

A student choreographer whose work is already generating excitement from the critics is Thomas Bradley. Last year, while only a second year student at the New Zealand School of Dance, Thomas won the award for ‘Best Emerging Male Performer’ and was nominated for ‘Best Choreography by An Emerging Male Artist’ at Tempo, NZ’s Festival of Dance. This year he is choreographing a piece for Sketch as well as performing in several of the works. Thomas says “choreography is personal. It stems from an idea or thought, created by your mind. It is something of you, and from you, so when you’re asked to put that in a public arena it is exciting.”

Zoë Dunwoodie has created her dance Variations on a Team for an all male cast. She explains her work as an exploration of the competitiveness and camaraderie of men playing sport, “eager and anxious, a group of males push themselves and each other to reach their peak”. Zoë adds “The dancers in my work have been really committed and have openly contributed to the creative process. It has been thoroughly enjoyable”.

Performed with precision and passion, Sketch is edgy dance by New Zealand's freshest choreographers.

SKETCH
NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE
CHOREOGRAPHIC SEASON 2011

20 – 28 May 2011
Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, Newtown, Wellington

Tickets: $20 Adults / $16 Students & Seniors / $12 Under 12 yrs

Book online at www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz or at the venue
phone info 04 381 9254
Evening shows 7.30pm (matinees Sat & Sun / no performance Mon)

ENDS

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