Tempo Sets Auckland Alight with Dance

Tempo Sets Auckland Alight with Dance for Another Stunning Year

TEMPO DANCE FESTIVAL 2015
30 September – 18 October
Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, Auckland

From Contemporary to Ballet and Hip Hop to Jazz Tempo Dance Festival is back from 30 September at Auckland’s Q Theatre, under the direction of newly appointed Artistic Director Carrie Rae Cunningham. Abounding with performances from both established and emerging dance companies, showcases, events and even lunchtime yoga, this year’s festival will have Auckland on its toes for the 12th year running.

Kicking off the 2015 tempo season is Mitimiti from one of Aotearoa’s finest – Atamira Dance Company. Founding Company member Jack Gray will present his first full length work which draws on four years of research into his exploration into the notion of whakapapa and global indigeneity.

For one night only, Muscle Mouth presents Triumphs and Other Alternatives, directed by and starring internationally renowned NZ choreographer Ross McCormack (Belgium’s Les Ballets C de la B). Triumphs is a critically-acclaimed, outstanding new work that collides sculpture with gutsy performance to create a visceral style of physical movement theatre that is not to be missed.
Footnote New Zealand Dance celebrate their 30 year anniversary with 30Forward. Part reflection and part premonition, 30Forward acknowledges the massive contribution of New Zealand choreographers throughout Footnote’s evolution. The show’s first half presents a selection of highlights from full-length works commissioned for the Forte series over the last ten years, while the second half features a new commission from renowned choreographer Malia Johnston.

Hilarious underground comedy dance crew Dynamotion are back for a return season of their hip-thrusting, pelvic-grinding dance madness Terror Planet, choreographed by Thomas Sainsbury (Sunday Roast, Super City) and Lara Fischel-Chisholm (Wet Hot Beauties). Dynamotion have taken Auckland by storm with their series of narrative comedy-dance thrillers as well as Pride Festival hit (and homage to everything gay), Purple Rainbow.

Festival favourite Y Chromozone, the all-male dance showcase, returns this year featuring a new selection of strong, sensual and daring works by acclaimed male performers, including Thomas Bradley (Sydney Dance Company), Paul Knoblock (Sydney Dance Company), Kimbrian Bergh (South African Ballet Theatre) and Tim Podesta, The Dust Palace, Da Bradas (Identity Co), the OMGs, New Zealand School of Dance and lots more.

Audiences are spoilt for choice with other full-length works, including those by leading contemporary choreographers Ross McCormack for the New Zealand School of Dance, and Zahra Killeen Chance whose work The Fallen Mystery has been developed from a short work presentation in a Tempo 2014. Two of NZ’s renowned contemporary dancers Nancy Wijohn and Kelly Nash also team with award-winning playwright Rachel House to explore woman as friends or foe, slipping between definitions of being Maori and being female, in Ahua.

Indian dance group - Yatra Dance also take to the mainstage with a new work based on the paintings of one of India's most famous painters, Raja Ravi Varma while Dance Pasion goes wild in Loft with Tango Fling with Swing, a Tango/Swing fusion show.

Popular Tempo showcases giving audiences a taste of the very best short works from a range of choreographic and dance talent is back with PRIME, FRESH, Alchemy (previously Tertiary Colours), Secondary Colours, The Kids Show and the brand new, sassy as jazz showcase All That… Highlights include Kayla Paige (X Factor choreographer) with her take on Bob Fosse, Mary Jane O’Reilly’s 1996 Giselle reset for Auckland Youth Dance Company, Touch Compass Dance Company with new choreography by UK choreographer Marc Brew, Kristian Larsen’s duet with Georgie Goater and Vivian Hosking-Aue and Thomas Fonoa’s (Australian Dance Theatre) double bill Malaga.
Tempo will once again pay tribute to a revered member of New Zealand dance community with Honouring a Dancer. In 2015 the festival celebrates Katie Haines who created the Alana Haines Australasian ballet awards in memory of her late daughter Alana.

The dance film element of the festival programme continues to gain in strength and in 2015 Quick Flicks will screen a series of dance shorts with films confirmed from Loughlan Prior (RNZ Ballet), Carrie Rae Cunningham and Kura Te Ua (more to be announced).

For a full programme of events head to www.tempo.co.nz

Tempo Dance Festival 2014 runs from 30 September – 18 October
Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, CBD, Auckland
Bookings: www.tempo.co.nz or www.qtheatre.co.nz (ph) 09 309 9771

ENDS

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