NZSD Students Given SCOPE to Explore Their Choreographic Talents
New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season 2016
SCOPE
New Zealand School of Dance 3rd year Contemporary student – Christopher Mills, photographed by Stephen A’Court.
The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) Choreographic Season is a highlight of the Wellington arts calendar, relished by
dance aficionados and newcomers alike. Renowned for technical accomplishment, the students’ choreographic talents are
showcased in this performance season titled SCOPE. Book your place and witness an extraordinary collection of new dance
works by the ten graduating students of the School’s full-time contemporary dance programme. The season will run from
20-28 May at Te Whaea Theatre in Wellington.
Jag Popham, one of the students creating a work for the show, describes the experience as a “highly rewarding process
for those choreographing, you get to see the class fully immerse themselves into the works of the show. It is fulfilling
for each of us to develop our creative voice and put something ofour own making before an audience.”
SCOPE, is both raw and deep; exploring the idea of the human condition and what our existence means to us. The theatre
has been set up so the audience is placed around the dancers, a challenge for the students to make choreography that can
be viewed from all angles.
The production is collaboration between the dance students of the NZSD and the production/stage craft students of Toi
Whakaari (New Zealand Drama School). Coordinator of the show, and NZSD graduate herself, Victoria Colombus emphasises
the importance of this experimental method of creation. “This year the New Zealand School of Dance students and Toi
Whakaari students are cultivating a very collaborative working process. They have been working together to investigate
overriding themes and how they can utilise different elements of stagecraft and performance to sew together these common
threads.”
SCOPE
New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season 2016
20 - 28 May 2016
Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington
Tickets: $12 - $23
Bookings and information www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz
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