Tag: Contemporary Dance

Auditions, Events, Updates

Full Time Auditions Update

All of us at NZSD have been hopeful that the full-time auditions could go ahead as planned in Auckland. Regrettably we are no longer able to make the trip to Auckland for live auditions as the Level 3 lockdown in Auckland, Northland and parts of the Waikato continues.

Therefore we will be accepting digital auditions from applicants in these regions and look forward to receiving these as early as possible (31 October at the latest).   This applies to those interested in our full-time programme and anyone wanting to join our Associates. Comprehensive Digital Audition Guidelines have been prepared.  Please click on the button to view and download them. 

Digital Auditions Guideline

We recognise that lockdown is a stressful time for everyone.   But even in these uncertain times, although we are physically apart, we are in this together.  Kia kaha Aotearoa!

Tū Ignite

Hip hop and contemporary dance holiday programme | $250

Calling all wahine and tane aged 14 – 18!  We’re excited to announce our very first Tū Ignite programme.  This four-day recreational holiday programme is for dancers of all backgrounds and levels of ability.  Expect workshops in contemporary dance, hip-hop and more that will keep you moving in new and innovative ways.

Tū Ignite teachers include New Zealand School of Dance tutors, guest teachers from The Company NZ in Wellington and other incredible dance artists.

Discover new skills, refine movements and explore ideas these winter holidays!

REGISTER

Tū: the action of standing or rising
Ignite: The flames of creativity, leadership and confidence in rangatahi

Tū Ignite workshops are also available to schools and communities by prior arrangement.  NZSD has already made arrangements with secondary schools in Auckland. If you’re interested in hosting a Tū Ignite workshop for your school or community, please contact us.
Image: 2021 NZSD 3rd Yr contemporary dance students. Photography by Stephen A’Court

Wellington Pathways: Information sharing on studying at NZSD

A series of informal talks for young dancers interested in the pathway to full-time study at the New Zealand School of Dance.

NZSD faculty provide insights from the School’s perspective and answer questions on:

  • The programmes at NZSD
  • What to expect from full-time dance training
  • How to apply
  • What it takes to audition successfully

As a national institution and the Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand School of Dance remains committed to providing exceptional dance training and developing well-rounded dancers who can succeed at the highest level.

Click Here to Register
Wednesday 14 July, 18.15 pm – 19.15 pm
Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, Newtown

Free to attend
Maximum 2 seats per booking

Events, Uncategorized

Summer Intensive 2021

Thank-you to all the talented and enthusiastic participants of the School’s inaugural Summer Intensive. We thoroughly enjoyed starting the new school year with you!

Save the dates for Winter School 2021, where we hope to dance with all of you again: 12 – 16 July 2021.

All photography below by Julia Forsyth of Joyful Dance Photography.

There & Then | Here & Now

Presenting iconic classical ballet repertoire and exciting new contemporary dance works in an intimate studio setting.

The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) presents Then & There | Here & Now: an eclectic programme celebrating the creativity, talent and resilience of the School’s students and tutors in an informal and relaxed setting.

Then & There is a collection of quintessential classical ballet repertoire including the iconic La Sylphide – Act II.  Here & Now is a presentation of enthralling contemporary dance works. Three of these were choreographed by talented New Zealanders and School alumni.

Experience the thrill of live performance in the studio where the students train – providing a  first-hand experience of the School and its dancers.  Be there to salute the next generation of dance talent.

BOOK TICKETS

The ballet and contemporary dance programmes will be performed on alternate evenings in Studio 1 at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, Wellington.

Patrons attending these performances will be required to sign-in to Te Whaea using the Covid Tacer app, or sign-in by hand leaving your contact details for contact tracing purposes.

Hand sanitiser stations will be available throughout the venue and paper masks are accessible upon entry to the dance studio where the performances will take place.

As our priority is to keep our students and our community safe, seating is limited for these performances.

Updates

It’s a wrap

Heartfelt thanks to the supporters, students and staff of the New Zealand School of Dance. This year has seen many successes because of your hard work, dedication and commitment.

Highlights this year included outstanding achievements by three NZSD classical ballet students at the Alana Haines Australasian Awards and fabulous reviews for performances at our Choreographic Season, Tempo Dance Festival and Graduation Season.

2019 3rd Yr classical ballet and contemporary dance students at the Graduation Ceremony

The talented and inspired classical ballet and contemporary dance graduates of 2019 have seen their dedication and perseverance pay dividends. Twenty three of these passionate young people have signed contracts with prestigious dance companies around the world. We wish them every success as their careers take flight.

Of course, none of this can be possible without you and the support, funding and grants the School receives throughout the year. Your commitment helps to provide funding for our performance seasons, scholarships and visiting tutors. This help enables our talented young people fulfil their potential – the impact of this is profound and beyond measure.

From all of us here at the New Zealand School of Dance, we hope that you enjoy a relaxing festive season, and look forward to sharing more successes with you in 2020!

Support Us

NZSD Foundation announces 2020 scholarship recipient

Foundation members congratulate Eden Kew

Patrons of the New Zealand School of Dance Foundation gathered at the School to celebrate the announcement of the second recipient of the Foundation’s scholarship.

At the event, held on Thursday 24 October, Chair of the Foundation, Andrew Stewart announced that the NZSD Foundation has offered its second full-fee scholarship for the 2020 academic year to contemporary dance student Eden Kew.

Since joining the New Zealand School of Dance, Eden has excelled in both ballet and contemporary dance. He is majoring in contemporary dance, but enjoys the exploration that comes from being able to combine his skills as an acrobat, classical and contemporary dancer.

This year Eden has represented NZSD in Auckland at the Pacific Dance Festival, Kokomai in the Wairarapa and Expressions in Upper Hutt. He also was selected to join the Sydney Dance Company for a week secondment. And next year Eden has been invited to represent the school in Tahiti.

His tutors have said that Eden is a wonderful, exemplary young man. He has an open minded approach and willingness to learn from others, qualities appreciated by the tutors and choreographers that he has worked with..

Grateful thanks to the NZSD Foundation patrons for sharing our vision to recognise and support young peoples’ dreams and ambition to dance.

Tessa Karle, NZSD Board of Trustees Chair Peter Mersi, Jordan Lennon
Tessa Karle, Pip and Doctor Russell Ballard, Jane and Denis Kikcaldie, Jordan Lennon
NZSD Director Garry Trinder, Wendy Weber, Jelle Sjoerdsma
NZSD Head of Contemporary Dance Paula Steeds-Huston, Analee and Dennis Emery, Franky Drousioti, Eden Kew

We thank our Inaugural Patrons, who were instrumental in getting the Foundation off the ground, and those people who have joined the Patrons programme this year.

Annual giving will help grow the Foundation and enable us to provide a new scholarship each year to a student in need.

If you’d like to find out more about supporting the NZSD Foundation, contact Elizabeth Isaacs | Elizabeth.Isaacs@nzschoolofdance.ac.nz

Reviews

Review| Not Odd Human | Tempo Dance Festival

…The 3rd year contemporary students of the New Zealand School of Dance, perform with grace, comedic attention, intelligence and aplomb. Their voices are just as grounded and eloquent. Verbal offerings, pitched at the beginning (prologue), middle and end (epilogue) of the work provide the rhetoric and darker elements of the narrative. “

Felicity Molloy for Theatreview
Read the full review