Dynamic contemporary dance company comes to NZ

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MEDIA RELEASE

17 September 2007

Dynamic contemporary dance company comes to NZ

Karbal Noumea Ballet, the hottest new contemporary dance company to come out of the South Pacific, performs Terres d’Auras in Auckland on 5 and 6 October during Tempo – Auckland Festival of Dance.

Hailing from New Caledonia, Karbal Noumea Ballet’s distinctive contemporary Pacific style of movement blends French flair and élan with Kanak rhythms and traditions, creating a sensual, physical and earthy body language that is unique to this company.

Choreographer Sthan Kabar-Louët gained considerable experience dancing with the world renowned Béjart Ballet under the great master of dance, Maurice Béjart. His 10 years with the company, combined with his natural creativity and his Pacific Island background, has led him to create work that reflects and honours the people and traditions of New Caledonia in an exciting, innovative and contemporary style.

Carla van Zon and Briony Ellis, directors of the New Caledonia New Zealand Season which is bringing Karbal Noumea Ballet to New Zealand, say that when they first saw the dance company perform they immediately saw the similarities with early Black Grace so knew it would be something New Zealand audiences would identify with and get enormous pleasure from.

Van Zon says “Terres d’Auras, the work Sthan and his dancers are performing, features 11 male and female dancers and is dynamic, sexy, thought provoking and undisputedly ‘contemporary Pacific’.”

Karbal Noumea Ballet is presented by the New Caledonia New Zealand Season, in partnership with STAMP at THE EDGE®.

Over 2007, a line-up of the best artists and athletes from New Caledonia are touring to New Zealand to appear in around 30 of the country’s leading arts and sports events. The New Caledonia New Zealand Season 2007 is an initiative funded by the Government and Provinces of New Caledonia and France through the Fonds Pacifique, and aims to give New Zealanders an insight into “the culture of our nearest neighbour”. Selected by Season Directors Carla van Zon and Briony Ellis, the artists, musicians, dancers, theatre companies, athletes and sportspeople are performing or competing in New Zealand’s largest regional arts and culture festivals and sports events, targeting a broad range of New Zealanders.

Karbal Noumea Ballet: Terres d’Auras

Friday 5 October – 8:00pm, Saturday 6 October – 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, THE EDGE®
Tickets: $18 / $24 / $30; early bird specials and group bookings available.
Bookings: Ticketek (09) 307 5000 or www.ticketek.co.nz. Service fees apply

ENDS

Further information about the New Caledonia New Zealand Season: www.NewCaledoniaSeason.co.nz

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