Showcase 2019: 30 years of Unitec Dance
Featuring work by Michael Parmenter and Unitec alumni Malia Johnston, Katie Burton, Tamsyn Russell, Paul Young, Jared
Hemopo and Eileen Witika
Unitec Dance is Turning 30
Showcase 2019 is just around the corner and this year we are celebrating 30 years of incredible teaching, learning and
industry building from one of the most innovative and progressive tertiary dance programmes New Zealand has seen. From
its inception in 1989 under Ali East to its current format established by Charene Griggs, Unitec dance and our Alumni
have been the nucleus of the dance community in NZ.
We are especially pleased to announce that the SHOWCASE 2019 programme features a repertoire of our favourite works from
the last 10 years in a show almost exclusively choreographed by Unitec Dance Alumni.
Eileen Witika will work with the full cohort of students to activate the space and welcome our audience into it, and a
select cast will perform Jared Hemopo’s beautiful Panekeneke (2013), a tender duet which explores a close relationship.
Paul Young and Katie Burton reprise the dark and enigmatic Penumbra (2016), a rich work of unfolding patterns that
spiral on the borders of light and dark.
Returning to us via Edinburgh, Dancer/Choreographer Tamsyn Russell will again work her magic with crowd favourite, the
punch Band Solo (2017). Tamsyn’s prolific career includes dancing for renowned choreographers Michael Parmenter (NZ),
Janis Claxton (SCD) and producing her own acclaimed work including Go Get 'em Kid, and Scene Stealer.
Following successful seasons of the Movement Of The Human, Meremere and the 2019 premiere of new work Owls Do Cry with
Red Leap Theatre Company, Malia Johnston will reimagine the dynamic and experimental Trigger (2013) on the graduating
class of 2019. Malia brings with her a wealth of experience from all corners of the dance industry and we are really
excited to have Malia on board.
This year we are also pleased to welcome the return of New Zealand Dance icon Michael Parmenter who will restage his
powerful 1988 work Fields of Jeopardy, a seminal piece of extreme physicality that will have you on the edge of your
seat.
Prepare for a celebratory evening of dance.
14-16 November @7:30pm & 17 November @5:00pm
Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Epsom, Auckland
Tickets on sale now at iTICKET.co.nz (09) 361 1000
ends