Essential Kiwi dance returns with Made in NZ

May 5, 2009
Footnote Dance presents 2009 Made in New Zealand

Essential Kiwi dance returns with Made in New Zealand

New Zealand's national contemporary dance company Footnote Dance presents the return of its perennial dance favourite, 2009 Made in New Zealand, a unique highlight of the dance calendar that showcases original home-grown dance works set to New Zealand music.

After a very successful preview season in Dunedin, the national tour begins in Wellington on May 20 and will journey as far south as Invercargill before taking in Auckland, Hastings and Hamilton.

Footnote Dance's 2009 Made in New Zealand features graceful and gut-busting dance works by some of this country's best contemporary choreographers including Michael Parmenter, Malia Johnston, Raewyn Hill, Deirdre Tarrant, Katie Burton and Sarah Foster, with a choreographic debut by company dancer Jesse Wikiriwhi.

The inspiration for the work is quintessentially Kiwi, from the idyllic pastimes of embroidery, robotic Playstation punch-ups, dark slices of the nation's history from the perspective of a choreographer’s own family member and good ol' Kiwi know-how.

The Made in New Zealand series has a special focus on the collaboration between the choreographer and composer, who often toil back and forth to create an original piece from the ground up. Composers featured in the 2009 season include Eden Mulholland, Josh Rutter, Andy Foster, Josh Tisley, Sally Nicholas, David Long and Dudley Benson.

Footnote Dance director Deirdre Tarrant said this year's programme is a testament to the collaborative wonder that occurs when artists from dance and music combine.

"These choreographers and musicians take a step back for their inspirations and a step forward for their realisation," she said. "For artists it’s about going forward and exploring new places – and when times are tough the places they explore are both compelling and fascinating."

"We've pulled together some of New Zealand's greatest choreographers, coupled them to fantastic home-grown music and together they have created works specially for the fabulous Footnote dancers who are among the best this country has to offer."

Since establishing its identity as a unique programme of kiwi repertoire in 2007, Made in New Zealand has become a touchstone in the New Zealand dance calendar. Choreographers previously featured have included Jeremy Nelson, Merenia Gray, Julia Sadler, Moss Patterson, Tim Fletcher and Sarah Knox.

Footnote Dance: 2009 Made in New Zealand
Wellington – Opera House: May 20, 8pm
Invercargill – Repertory House: May 24 1.30pm & 4pm
Auckland – SKYCITY Theatre: May 28, 8pm
Hastings – Hawkes Bay Opera House: June 6, 8pm
Hamilton – Southwell School Performing Arts Centre: June 12 8pm

Tickets at Ticketek (Wgtn/Auck/Ham) Ticketdirect (Hastings) & Invercargill i-site

ENDS

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