NZ School of Dance presents two visionary programmes

7 November 2018

New Zealand School of Dance presents two visionary programmes in celebration of Director’s 20th anniversary with the School

This November the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) is proud to celebrate 20 years of outstanding service and leadership from its Director Garry Trinder MNZM. This celebration is combined with the School’s 2018 Graduation Season on from 21 November – 1 December. The Season has been programmed and curated to reflect the profound impact that Garry Trinder’s tenure has had on the School.

Underpinning Trinder’s tenure is a culture that encourages creative diversity. Garry Trinder has worked hard to create a School that provides equal support to both ballet and contemporary dance – a stance that honours the School’s rich heritage whilst looking forward to an exciting future. In celebration of this, the 2018 Graduation Season presents two exciting programmes, Tradition (ballet) & Innovation (contemporary dance). The Tradition programme showcases ballet works from a number of renowned choreographers, including Betsy Erickson, George Balanchine, August Bournoville, Christopher Hampson and Christopher Wheeldon. The Innovation programme features new works by American choreographer Adam Barruch alongside NZSD alumna Lauren Langlois, Victoria Colombus and Gabrielle Thomas. The Innovation programme also features established contemporary works by Huan Yi and Damien Jalet.

Wednesday 21 Nov performance opens with the Tradition programme (ballet); with the staging of August Bournonville’s LA SYLPHIDE PAS DE DEUX AND GRAND DIVERTISSEMENT, ACT II. This is followed by George Balanchine’s TARANTELLA- a “gut-busting” interpretation of a Neopolitan folk Dance. Esteemed American dance artist Diana White has travelled from New York to stage this youthful and exuberant ballet.
Highlights of this breath-taking season include Betsy Erickson’s SFUMATO. A ballet much admired by Garry Trinder:
“The work challenges the dancers, as well as giving them a sense of enjoyment in their movement, treating the movement in a light, and sometimes humorous, fashion.” - Betsy Erickson.

Audiences will be enthralled by the New Zealand premiere of AFTER THE RAIN PAS DE DEUX choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and staged by Australian born Damian Smith.

Louise Deleur’s world premiere of a newly commissioned work by the School: EMERGE. This is a true collaboration with the students, highlighting their strength and physicality as well as creating a vehicle for them to express their artistry and engage the audience.

Other highlights in the Tradition programme, are the explosive SALTARELLO, choreographed by Christopher Hampson and staged by NZSD tutor Turid Revfeim. SALTARELLO tells the story of young nobles who fled the plague-ravaged Florence to a hideaway outside of the city.

The Innovation programme opens with, E TOLU choreographed by Victoria Columbus alongside NZSD students Chris Clegg, Braedyn Humphries, and Laifa Ta’ala. The work first premiered as part of the 2018 Pacific Dance Festival.
The New Zealand premiere of WICKED FISH choreographed by Huang Yi is described by Dance Europe as “Fast-paced, exciting and fluid.”

The School celebrates NZSD graduates Gabrielle Thomas and Lauren Langlois by commissioning new works that will premiere at Graduation Season. HURI KOARO (INSIDE OUT) is the development of Gabrielle’s trio work Te Waenganui. Lauren’s work STATIC, embodies the connection between internal states and their translation into a choreographic language.

American choreographer, Adam Burrach has travelled from New York to work with the students on the world premiere of IT’S WRITTEN IN THE WALLS. This mesmerising piece explores how the past influences our future choices.

LES MÉDUSÉS choreographed by Damien Jalet closes the Innovation programme with a hypnotic ritual of empowerment, a quest for freedom within invisible restrictions.

The Season marks a significant milestone and showcases an incredible range of creative talent from across the School and from around the world.

We thank the Stout Trust, The Lion Foundation, Australian High Commission, Four Winds Foundation and Asia New Zealand Foundation for funding towards this project.

New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Season 2018
21 November – 1 December at New Zealand School of Dance, Wellington

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