Category: Uncategorized

To mark the School’s historic 50th anniversary in 2017 we will be publishing a collector’s book of highlights, honouring alumni, choreographers and teachers who have passed through the School and played a significant role in shaping this country’s dance culture.

We offer you the opportunity to support this stunning publication, designed by award winning book designer Neil Pardington, written by Turid Revfeim, and lavishly illustrated with photographs by Stephen A’Court.

Your gift will help us realise this project and share our extraordinary history.

Donate now

How We Acknowledge Your Support

We welcome donations at all levels. Donations over $5 are tax deductible.

$50+ supporters will be acknowledged on the NZSD website

$100+ supporters will be acknowledged in the 50th anniversary book (if before 16 January) and on the NZSD website

$500+ supporters will receive a personal invitation to our 50th Anniversary party and book launch, be acknowledged in the book (if before 16 January) and on the NZSD website

“The lasting friendships I made impacted my life significantly and I’m grateful and proud to say I trained at NZSD!” – Jenna Morris-Williamson

We are grateful for the generous support of this project by Stephen A’Court, Neil Pardington Design and Format Print

---

For more information about supporting the NZSD please email Development Officer Elizabeth Isaacs or phone 04 381 9224

The New Zealand School of Dance is a registered charity (number CC24138) and member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand.

Image: Dressing Room at the School 1967

Six of our classical students recently enjoyed the privilege of touring with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB), dancing in venues all over New Zealand for their season of ‘Giselle’.

The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) is formally recognised as the ‘Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’. This relationship brings many benefits and recently a group of hardworking and talented students were selected to tour throughout New Zealand with our national ballet company. They danced to largely full audiences at each destination and fulfilled dreams of performing on opera house stages. With these students on the cusp of launching their careers the timing of this opportunity cannot be overstated.

“Being able to tour New Zealand with RNZB has been such an amazing experience. Getting to dance in class, rehearsal and then eventually onstage alongside those who I have admired in all their performances is such a privilege.” – Jack Whiter (NZSD student)

Not only did the students get a taste of what their future careers may hold but importantly were able to reconnect with former students and experience first-hand the transition that this group has made from being graduates to valued company members. Even with a full tour schedule to deliver, the students found time to explore the towns visited and have fun with old friends.

“This has been a long-time dream of mine and it was great to experience it and get a feel for life as a professional ballerina.” – Alice Beedie (NZSD student)

Opportunities to join the RNZB regularly take our students further afield, just last year Sophie Arbuckle was selected to travel with the company on their European tour of ‘Giselle’.

---

Photo: graduate Georgia Powley with students Sophie Arbuckle and Alice Beedie in costume for ‘Giselle’

To launch the fundraising programme for the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017 the School aimed high and hosted High Tea with Darcey Bussell.

With the opportunity to sip tea alongside a true legend of dance, our ‘High Tea with Darcey Bussell’ always promised to be something special.

The courtyard ambience of the NZSD plaza provided the backdrop, while striking vintage tea settings and elegant floral bouquets completed the scene. The mood was made festive with a string quartet, photos with Darcey, tutu display, activities for children, and an auction.

Earlier in the day Darcey held a sold-out coaching session with two NZSD students. Returning to host the high tea she couldn’t have been more giving of her time; greeting star-struck guests, signing books and shoes and inspiring us all in her Q&A session with NZSD director Garry Trinder.

---

Following the event, the School was inundated with thank-you messages. Here is a selection to paint a picture of what proved to be a very special day for all involved.

“Sincere thanks and congratulations on the wonderfully organised event yesterday. Yourself and team went to so much trouble and everything turned out beautifully. Our highlights were Darcey’s interview, incredibly inspiring, along with such an outstanding interviewer and secondly the delicious food presented and served with style!”

“I wanted to take a moment to write and say thank you from all of us for the coaching/High Tea on Saturday. It was a wonderful experience and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“A truly lovely afternoon – enjoyed by all both big & small. Congrats to all who created such a successful event.”

“Had High Tea with the wonderful Darcey Bussell this afternoon after watching her coach some girls this morning. What an inspirational day and such a treat to see a beautiful, genuine artist at work.” (Instagram)

---

Images by Woolf Photography

As New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) students graduate from an exceptionally successful year in 2015 many will take up company contracts in the New Year.

Lola Howard joins West Australian Ballet, and Yayoi Matches becomes a Jette Parker Young Artist with Queensland Ballet. Earlier in the year Tirion Law took up a contract with the Hong Kong Ballet, and has already danced with the company in Pinocchio and Romeo and Juliet. Ties with Singapore continue to grow with Yeo Chan Yee and Wan Jiajing both joining Singapore Dance Theatre.

2015 contemporary dance graduates Demi-Jo Manalo and Latisha Sparks will launch their professional careers with New Zealand’s Okareka Dance Company. Latisha, on a seasonal contract, will then travel with fellow graduate Felix Sampson to Iratxe Ansa Projects in Mexico. Graduates will also dance in Australia; Georgia Rudd joining Dancenorth, Jag Popham with Expressions Dance Company and several students offered contracts with Shaun Parker & Company.

In a historic move, Felipe Domingos who joined the School in February, will join the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB). A prestigious achievement for a first year student. Georgia Powley will also join RNZB as the Todd Scholar, on a full-time contract supported by the Todd Corporation. “I am very excited that we can offer Georgia the Todd Scholarship. We look forward to giving both Georgia and Felipe the chance to join us in 2016 and watching them develop into accomplished dancers with the RNZB,” said RNZB Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia.

---

Images: Yayoi Matches and Felipe Domingos (top), Latisha Sparks and Felix Sampson (below). Photographed by Stephen A’Court

In 2017 the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) celebrates its 50th anniversary. Special events are being planned for the School’s 50th year around a gala weekend, 24 – 26 November 2017.

In anticipation of this important milestone we would like to connect with former students and staff. Please fill in your details on our short Alumni Form.

We welcome your involvement in these celebrations. We would love to receive images of your time at the school, any memorabilia, and to hear your memories.

We already have a few alumni who have volunteered to help us with planning this event. Please indicate on the survey if you would like to volunteer as an representative of your year group.

If you are still in contact with other students from your time at the School please show them this page so we can include them in future communications. Early warning for those living out of town will help with planning travel.

The 50th anniversary will provide a rare opportunity for alumni to connect and reminisce with friends and tutors from their time at the School. Join the NZSD team in making this event the most memorable for all.

Alumni Form

#NZSD50th on Facebook

---

For further information please email Natasha Giera or phone +64 4 381 9216

New Zealand School of Dance students Connor Masseurs and Toa Paranihi epitomise what the School’s Tū Move programme can do for talented young Māori and Pacific Island men.

Connor and Toa, have not taken the traditional route to become NZSD students. They’ve always been inspired by dance but equally so by sport. So a workshop like Tū Move, for 14-18 year olds in Street Dance, Contemporary and other dance styles was the perfect introduction to a whole new world. Both Connor and Toa are now training as students in the NZSD full-time programme, majoring in contemporary dance.

Not only are Connor and Toa taking on new challenges at the School but they also competed in the 2015 Street Dance NZ Championships in Auckland. The boys’ crew ‘The Associates’ qualified for the world finals, travelling to San Diego to compete, and Connor won the award for Most Outstanding Male Dancer of 2015.

Tū Move at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington

---

Photo: NZSD students Toa Paranihi and Connor Masseurs, photographed by Stephen A’Court

It takes 40 hours to make a tutu. Creating 18 of them – from 300 metres of net, 40 metres of silk, 4300 crystals and lace for decoration, and coutil (corset under the structure) – is a huge undertaking.

As part of November’s Graduation Season our classical students will be performing the Grand Pas from the 19th century ballet ‘Paquita’. The full length ballet is rarely performed now but the Grand Pas, a later addition by Marius Petipa, is a major cornerstone of traditional ballet repertoire for companies around the world. We are very fortunate to have master teacher, and celebrated ballerina Anna-Marie Holmes staging this work for our students this year.

We are looking for partners to help bring this exciting work to the stage, giving our young dancers the opportunity to show their technical virtuosity in fitting style, through donations to our tutu appeal.

Award winning costumier Donna Jefferis has created the designs and will work with students from Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School to make the tutus. The silk, net, lace and crystals are assembled; and our students have begun to rehearse ‘Paquita’.

Now we need to raise $9,000 to make 18 tutus for the girls dancing the Grand Pas. A donation of $500 will support the making of one tutu, but any amount will be very much appreciated.

Donate

---

Graduation Season 2015 18-28 November

Contemporary Dance tutor and NZSD graduate Victoria Colombus, who we all know as Tor, has directed the School’s Choreographic Season show for the past six years.

Each year for this season, third year students majoring in contemporary dance choreograph works to be performed by other students. Tor, who has been a tutor since 2010, mentors the choreographers to develop their individual pieces, and then works with them to create a full-length show from the material.

This year’s show ‘KARST’ puts the dancers in a different space, outside the usual theatre setting, with the stage design altering constantly during the performance. Tor said, “Changing the performance space means the students have to think outside the normal realms of traditional theatre. This process is developing their creativity, and challenging them to explore choreography in a unique way.”

Having choreographic talent like Tor’s at the School gives the students access to valuable knowledge and experience. Not only is she a graduate of the School’s full-time programme, but Tor is actively involved in other areas of the dance industry, influencing both performance and choreographic process.

Tor has worked with many leading contemporary dance companies. She has performed and toured with Black Grace Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Michael Parmenter’s Commotion Company, the World of WearableArt (WOW). She has choreographed on Footnote Dance Company and is rehearsal director for company Muscle Mouth, staging their work ‘Age’ for the 2014 New Zealand International Arts Festival. In 2012 she was appointed principal choreographer for the World of WearableArt and toured the production to Hong Kong.

Choreographic Season 2015 ‘KARST’

---

NZSD Contemporary Tutors

The New Zealand School of Dance has published a new prospectus, which is available in print and online.

It contains valuable information about the School, courses offered, how to apply, living in Wellington and information for international students. Photos of the School’s students and facilities give a clear picture of life as a student at NZSD.

This is essential reading for anyone considering auditioning for full-time training.

---

For more information, visit About the School

The New Zealand School of Dance has been formally recognised as the ‘Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed this month between the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) and the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD), committing renewed energy to the relationship between the two national arts organisations.

The bond between School and Company is important said Francesco Ventriglia, Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet; “When I was a dance student myself at La Scala in Milan, Italy it was my dream to become a professional dancer with the company. I believe very strongly in the importance of the relationship between New Zealand School of Dance and their national ballet company. I will do my very best to help nurture NZSD students and together with the NZSD help the students realise their dreams.”

The New Zealand School of Dance was founded in 1967 to train dancers for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Despite changes in the School’s course structure, programmes and direction in the intervening years, the professional association between the NZSD and RNZB has remained strong. This move signals greater collaboration as the School approaches its 50th anniversary in 2017.

“The signing of this document reflects the original manifesto of the New Zealand School of Dance”, said the School’s director Garry Trinder. “The aspiration both organisations share is to present young New Zealanders with a legitimate career path through entry to the School and into the Company. Our primary wish is to see more New Zealanders remain in the country and play pivotal roles shaping our national dance culture.”

---

Photo: Elisabeth Zorino who is joining the RNZB in 2015, performing in New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Season. Photographed by Stephen A’Court