Graduation Performances 2002

For immediate release

The New Zealand School of Dance presents -
Graduation Performances 2002

Dates/Times: 21 – 30 November 7.30pm with a 4.00pm matinee on Sunday 24 November. Venue: Te Whaea, National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington.
Tickets: $15 full, $12 concession
Bookings: 04 389 9056 A/H 04 380 1715

When it comes to energy, excitement and youthful effervescence there is nothing to equal the New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Performances.

Natalie Weir’s Jabula – an African word meaning joy - is an explosion of light and muscle. Weir is Resident Choreographer to the Australian Ballet and her choreography challenges the eye with taut turns, athletic floor work and full-to-bursting leaps. Jabula is a heart-pounding celebration of tribal ritual and is energised by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer’s thrilling music from the original score - ‘The Power of One’. This is the first time Jabula will be premiered in NZ.

In acknowledging the 35th Anniversary of the School of Dance the season includes creative work from three illustrious graduates. New choreographic commissions have been sought from 2002 Arts Foundation Laureate, Shona McCullagh and Daniel Belton; whilst Royal Danish Ballet Principal Dancer, Martin James returns to the School after an absence of more than twenty years, to stage the dauntingly technical pas de deux from August Bournonville’s Flower Festival in Genzano. This short work alternates nightly with Anton Dolin’s evocative tribute to four leading ballerinas of the Romantic era, Pas de Quatre.

Building on the success of his two earlier New Zealand presentations - Never Mind The Bindies and Serendipities - comes a new work from award-winning Australian choreographer, Leigh Warren titled - Sharing Breath. Last year, Warren was showered with Green Room Awards for his Melbourne Arts Festival commission, Quick Brown Fox, which was made in collaboration with William Forsythe of the Frankfurt Ballet. Warren’s choreography has been summarised by Alan Brissendon of The Australian as being: “…dancing that has a relaxed looseness energised by an inner tension, a fluency that ripples through legs and torsos, almost bursting out at fingers’ ends, but instead is contained and directed.”

All in all, a varied programme for dance lovers - one that combines the best of the past with the dynamism of the present.

For all bookings please phone the bookings line: 04 389 9056
For all enquiries, interviews or photo opportunities please contact Karen Mackersy on: 04 380 1715 or email: karen@tewhaea.org.nz

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