Dance Graduation Season Proves A Hit

20 November 2008

NZ School Of Dance Graduation Season Proves A Hit

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The New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Season 2008 has opened to full houses and a rapturous response from the audience.

This highly anticipated performance programme comprises seven contrasting works, taking the audience on a tour around the world and through the history of dance, both classical and contemporary.

Among the season highlights are world premieres by Ross McCormack and Sarah Foster, two New Zealand contemporary choreographers sustaining highly successful careers internationally.

Graduation Season audiences will also get to enjoy five other works that traverse the spectrum between traditional classical ballet and edgy contemporary dance. These include Jiri Kylian’s Un Ballo, Natalie Weir’s Jabula, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto pas de deux, August Bournonville’s Flower Festival in Genzano and the Pas de Dix from Raymonda.

"This production will be the last chance audiences have to see these young dancers before many of them leave to dance overseas," Director Garry Trinder says. "The opportunity to see great choreography by several of the masters – August Bournonville, Jiri Kylian and Sir Kenneth MacMillan – is a treasure in itself, but the added bonus of bringing back to the country significant pieces by two of our most distinctive choreographic voices makes Graduation Season the hot ticket in town.”

These performances represent the culmination of the students’ studies – either a two-year Certificate or three-year Diploma in Dance Performance – at one of the leading dance conservatoires in the Southern Hemisphere. NZSD is based at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, and its students regularly progress to full time employment as professional dancers and choreographers.

The New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Season runs through until Saturday 29th November at Te Whaea Theatre in Wellington.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and $10 for children age 12 and under. To order tickets, call 04 381 9254.

ENDS

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