We are here to experience and view fresh new works. On entering the expansive foyer, a friendly ambience pervades the air with live music and mood lighting creating an expectant excitement.  Dance enthusiasts and friends and family are in attendance and before curtain up they take  time to soak up the details of the emerging choreographers from the larger than life billboards displaying their interesting backgrounds and knowledge of their lives to date.

 
So amidst full support from this thriving institution and audience, the choreographers are suitably equipped to foster their inspiration, making their creativity a firm reality. The ten pieces presented are chosen from the Final Year Contemporary students. This popular annual event is a very suitable and often successful platform.

 

The week long Choreographic Season, this time, is one of choreography and performance by the students of the New Zealand School of Dance with a collaboration of lighting and costume design by students from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School.A variety of topics are presented with solos, ever popular duos and the more difficult to produce larger ensembles. From the simplistic to the adventurous, the naked space was explored.

The overall dedicated focus and sheer athleticism of the very committed dancers, shows an outright willingness to perform their fellow classmates works with powerful passion and integrity. The glowing result of well-trained students, allows one to believe that there should be undoubtedly a strong future for this year group, hopefully emphasising New Zealand as being in the global forefront of contemporary dance.

 

The season’s title Sketch hints at a common thread with animated speed drawings by Paul Bradley, appearing as a slightly obscure theme basis, as  they trace and outline the flow of a dancer’s energy by way of large projected images. Perhaps this could have appeared more integrated while reproducing either the style or with more identifiable movement motifs?

 

The programme opens with Ignite choreographed by Alice Macann. Like moths to a flame the twelve dancers are drawn to light, feeding off its radiating energy and embodying electric qualities. Innovative movement and levels are used.

 

A concept by Jonathan Selvadura, where a male choreographs on an all female cast, shows the beauty of long haired dancers using and entwining their locks in Shredded Strands.

 

 Zoë Dunwoodie, on the other hand, has created her dance Variations on a Team for an all male cast. Obviously from a strong female perspective, this tongue-in- cheek, less than subtle, humorous choreography explores the competitiveness and camaraderie of men playing sport. Primping, posing and pectoral dexterity is ever-present in the manly pursuit of victorious recognition. The audience laughs out loud.

 

But for me, the stand-out pinnacle of the entire performance, is a piece choreographed by Rebecca Bassett-Graham and superbly performed by Samantha Hines and Matt Roffe. Left unsaid explores those moments where people find themselves at a loss for words. Having so much to say but not being able to speak ,and in contrast,  where one doesn’t have anything to be understood. This emotionally charged, very effective mature choreography and delivery was worthy of high praise. I was left with tingles down my spine and wanting more, hoping one day that I would see a  more expanded version.

 

The evening ended all too soon but there was evidence that this was a fresh season and one definitely not past it’s sell by date.
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