Exceptional dancer to teach at NZ School of Dance

Three Short Ballets in NYC: Qi Huan, photographed by Ross Brown for the Royal New Zealand Ballet

Media Release

New Zealand School of Dance

24 February 2014

Exceptional dancer to teach at New Zealand’s foremost training institution

Qi Huan, who has been a leading dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet for the past nine years, is leaving the company to take up a teaching role at the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD).

Qi will teach classical ballet, with a particular emphasis on the training of male dancers, to the School’s full-time tertiary level students who aspire to become professional dancers. Over its 47 year history the NZSD has developed an international reputation for training dancers at the highest level. Graduates have gone on to fulfil international careers and many have made significant contributions as choreographers and company directors.

In addition to being an exceptional dancer, Qi has always had a passion for teaching. He has a Bachelor Degree of teaching and performing arts in ballet, and taught at the Beijing Dance Academy from 2003 – 04 before coming to New Zealand to join the RNZB.

Just back from a triumphant tour of the US dancing with the company, Qi Huan, who also had a lead role in Toa Fraser’s 2013 film ‘Giselle’, said “To become a ballet teacher has always been one of my future goals and dreams. I'd love to share all my dance knowledge and stage experience with the younger generation.”

“I am so excited to explore and learn more as well as work with all the dedicated and disciplined people at NZSD“, Qi added.

NZSD Director Garry Trinder feels Qi joining the faculty will be important for the School’s links within the Asia-Pacific Region and for the future of its teaching. “It has been a long term aspiration to have Qi teach at NZSD. On occasion he has been a guest teacher at the School and always impressed me with his dedication, intelligence and commitment to excellence”.

Garry said, "I am proud that we have been able to appoint a person with such an impressive professional background. I am convinced that with Qi Huan on our teaching staff we can continue to improve the high international standards expected of the world’s finest dance conservatoires".

Ethan Stiefel, Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, said of Qi’s new move, “Qi Huan has made so many substantial and inspiring contributions to the Royal New Zealand Ballet during his nine years with the company. Qi will be missed, but I look forward continuing conversations with him, in terms of his maintaining an association with the RNZB, in some capacity. The RNZB wishes him the very best in his new role of teaching and developing a new generation of dancers at the New Zealand School of Dance“.

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