The New Zealand Dance Company (incorporated as The New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust) is an Auckland based, nationally focused contemporary dance company.
Established in 2012, by co-founders Chief Executive/Artistic Director (and Arts Laureate) Shona McCullagh[1] and the founding General Manager Frances Turner, the company sought to break the paradigm of dance companies operating on a project by project basis, presenting work by one choreographer, and moved instead to a sustainable model of presenting a variety of choreographic works.
The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) was founded in 2012 by former Limbs Dance Company member Shona McCullagh. Like Limbs, the NZDC company commissions work from New Zealand and international choreographers.[2] Part of the mission was to support new talent and utilise dancers and choreographers who had left New Zealand.[3] The founding production was the Language of Living, featuring choreographers Michael Parmenter, Justin Haiu, Sarah Foster-Sproull and Shona McCullagh.
NZDC has developed more than 27 new works by choreographers from New Zealand, Australia, Holland and South Korea and has toured internationally including to the Holland Dance Festival, Australia, Germany, Liverpool, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada.
In addition to a professional Company, NZDC has a Youth and Community Engagement Programme of weekly classes, masterclasses and workshops for all ages and levels – including an over 60s Feisty Feet class.[4]
In 2011 Creative New Zealand funded the new venture of The New Zealand Dance Company and Westpac bank sponsored.[5]
Stage of Being (2023)Location - ASB Waterfront Theatre,[7] Auckland Choreographers - Tupua Tigifua (LittleBits and AddOns), Xin Ji & Xiao Chao Wen (Made in Them)
ArteFact (2022 & 2023)Location - New Zealand Tour 2022 & 2023[8] Director/ Choreographer - Ross McCormack
Night Light [9] (2022 & 2023)Location - ASB Waterfront Theatre, AucklandChoreographers - Tor Colombus and Eddie Elliott
This Fragile Planet (2020)Location - Auckland Fringe Festival and Hamilton Gardens Arts FestivalChoreographers - Nina Nawalowalo and Tom McCrory (The Conch), Ross McCormack
International Tours (2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014)Location - Canada, Belgium, Luxemburg, Paris, Liverpool, Germany, Holland, Australia, Netherlands
Matariki for Tamariki (2019, 2020, 2022)Location - Auckland, NorthlandChoreographer - Sean McDonald
Kiss the Sky (2019, 2017)Location - Bay of Islands, Wanaka, Invercargill, Wellington, New Plymouth, Nelson, Hamilton, AucklandChoreographers - KIM Jae Duk, Victoria Columbus, Stephanie Lake, Sue Healey
Tamaki TourLocation - AucklandChoreographers - Sean McDonald, Mia Mason, Lucy Marinkovich, Chrissy Kokiri, Taniora Motutere, Ashleigh Perriot, Tupua Tigafua, Bianca Hyslop, Scott Ewen, Omea Geary, Malia Johnston, Joshua Cesan
Lumina (2018, 2016,2015)Location - Paris, Liverpool, Hamilton, Christchurch, Nelson, Auckland, Germany, Holland, Whangarei, Napier, Wellington, New PlymouthChoreographers - Stephen Shropshire, Louise Potiki Bryant, Malia Johnston
OrphEus - A Dance Opera (2018)Location - Auckland Festival, New Zealand Festival WellingtonChoreographer - Michael Parmenter
The Absurdity of Humanity (2017, 2016)Location - New Plymouth, Marlborough, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland
Rotunda (2015, 2014, 2013)Location - Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Parramatta, Geelong, Den Haag, Amsterdam, AucklandChoreographer - Shona McCullagh in collaboration with dancers
Language of Living (2014, 2013, 2012)Location - Invercargill, Christchurch, Nelson, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Auckland, Whangarei, Hawke's Bay, WellingtonChoreographers - Shona McCullagh, Michael Parmenter, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Justin Haiu, Tupua Tigafua, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
Shaun Parker's TrolleysWinner of the Argus Angel Award (Brighton Festival, UK)Location - UK, Spain, Belgium, France, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, AucklandChoreographer - Shaun Parker