Bringing Back The Y Factor To New Zealand Dance!

Media release – July 2011
For immediate release

Bringing Back The Y Factor To New Zealand Dance!

Y CHROMOSOME

Some of New Zealand’s most acclaimed male dancers share their unique talent in a programme of brilliant creative force which will definitely leave you wanting more. Y Chromosome returns after a sell out season in 2010, with a multi-discipline programme bursting with energy.

The favourite pairing of Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete will again feature, this time with the fast paced duet Hand to Hand by Michael Parmenter from Tama Ma. These two dancers are celebrities in the dance world for their highly skilled dancing, their powerful stage personas and their charming personalities. Their presence in Y Chromozone is not to be missed.

Formerly of internationally renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and Kaohsiung Contemporary Dance Company, Chung-Fu Chang’s solo performances have been showcased at various dance festivals and major performance venues both across the United States and internationally. He received a Solo Finalist Placement Award at the 2004 Palm Desert Dance under the Stars Choreography Festival at McCallum Theatre in California, while in 2007; he was invited as a special guest artist for the Grand Prix de Argentina in Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Tempo is also honoured to announce a solo work from acclaimed choreographer John Nuemier will be performed in this programme. Nuemier has been Artistic Director of Hamburg Ballet since 1973 on leaving the Frankfurt Opera House, and went on to found the Hamburg Ballet School – finding time to also be made Director of Hamburg State Opera in 1996. The solo work, Spring and Fall, was created in 1996 and will be danced by Christopher Gerty, a top 3rd year ballet student from the New Zealand School of Dance.

Y Chromosome this year also features Justin Haiu from the New Zealand Dance Company; fusing together pacific, street and contemporary disciplines, 2010 was a big year for the artist. Not only was he awarded “Best Choreography by an Emerging Artist” at the Tempo Awards ceremony, but he claimed the “Pasifika Idol” award at the Listener Dance Awards. Release your Robot is Justin’s new solo, is a quirky, poignant snapshot that showcases his delightful aesthetic.

Simon Watts and Andrew Cesan pull double duty during this year’s programme. Internationally awarded tap artists in their own right, the pair also team up with international award winning hip hop group TMC – whose gymnastic prowess, innovative hiphop choreography and dance ability are renowned.

Y Chromozone packed a punch with its vitality, variety and powerful male performance….

Sue Cheeseman, Theatreview, Tuesday 12 October 2010

Y Chromozone was a fantastic finale for two intensive festival weeks at Tapac.

Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald, 11 October 2011

Y Chromosome: Saturday 1st October, 6pm and 8pm (Main Stage)

Tempo Dance Festival 2011 from September 30th to 8th October 2011.

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