Review Archive
Deirdre Tarrant CNZM founded Footnote Dance in 1985, and led it to become the national treasure of choreography and dance exploration it now is. Her own ballet background began in Wellington with Jeane Horne and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. A QE2 study grant took her overseas to dance and on her return she choreographed a number of works for the RNZB. She has developed many works for Footnote and led creative change as the company has evolved over 29 years, including Pick up Sticks (New Zealand Festival), Outside the Square and War in Paradise. Deirdre has recently retired from her role as Artistic Director of Footnote and also from her role as an international examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance. She is Director of Tarrant Dance Studios and the Deirdre Tarrant Dance Theatre, a youth company with a commitment to integrating dance as a vital part of the Wellington community. Deirdre was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the community in 2000, a Distinguished Alumni of Victoria University in 2006 and received an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian award and was Arts Wellingtonian of the year 2012. In 2013 she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to contemporary dance. She has reviewed dance works for Capital Times, Radio New Zealand and Theatreview for a number of years.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
Once Upon A Dance
Palmerston North, Dunedin, Paekākāriki, Wellington
04/03/2018 - 11/10/2018
"A strong, joyous, survivor message..
"Dancing lives brought together..
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BARRIER NINJA
Wellington
07/06/2018 - 09/06/2018
"Storytelling at its best..
DANCING WITH MOZART
Palmerston North, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Christchurch
31/05/2018 - 08/07/2018
"Fine fettle to the fore..
"Mid-winter Mozart treat..
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2AM PHONE CALL
Wellington
10/03/2018 - 13/03/2018
"Intimate exchanges..
O VERTIGO
Wellington
07/02/2018 - 10/02/2018
"Prosaic normality and clever freestyle dance..
NZ School of Dance 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRADUATION SEASON
Wellington
24/11/2017 - 25/11/2017
"Panache, precision, poignancy ... and period pieces..
"Classical ballet legacy and contemporary excitement..
ONCE
Wellington, Auckland
08/09/2017 - 08/10/2017
"Testing the mettle of creative contributors..
"Solo choreographies a tribute to talented graduates..
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ROMEO & JULIET - the Royal NZ Ballet 2017
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier
16/08/2017 - 24/09/2017
"A grand spectacle..
"Sumptuous styling..
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Fire In The Water, Fire In The Sky
Wellington
13/06/2017 - 17/06/2017
"A Stab in the Waist of Life:..
"A Silent Flame..
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Three By Ekman
Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin
17/05/2017 - 16/06/2017
"Exploration and adventure..
"Voiceovers, incongruity and the unexpected..
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CARMEN with L'ARLESIENNE
Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Wellington, Auckland
16/02/2017 - 22/03/2017
"Carmen and L'Arlésienne shouldn't be missed..
"Power of Petit..
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DÓDEKA
Wellington
25/02/2017 - 26/02/2017
"Talent plus attitudinal aggression..
NZ School of Dance Graduation Season (2016)
Wellington
16/11/2016 - 26/11/2016
"Utter commitment from NZSD dancers..
GISELLE - The Royal NZ Ballet
Wellington, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland
11/08/2016 - 03/09/2016
"Simply superb in every way..
"Giselle: Delicate, defined, and dynamic..
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PEDAL.PEDDLE
Wellington, Auckland
13/03/2015 - 04/03/2017
"Patchwork narcissi..
"A solo to remember..
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THE WIZARD OF OZ
Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Napier
04/05/2016 - 12/06/2016
"Artistic licence provokes sighs..
"Women are the standouts in the Wizard of Oz..
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THE BLUE-BEARDED LADY
Wellington, Christchurch
27/09/2015 - 02/04/2016
"Utterly charming in a ghoulish kind of way...
"A fierce re-gendering of a classic tale..
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Our Catharsis
Wellington, Christchurch
09/10/2013 - 04/03/2016
"Small, personal, wry and cleverly engaging..
"Unique, intelligent, thought-provoking work..
KNITTING WHILE SLEEPING
Wellington
24/02/2016 - 27/02/2016
"Visceral and compelling Fringe show..
*NZSD GRADUATION SEASON 2015
Wellington
18/11/2015 - 28/11/2015
"SHINE IN ABUNDANCE, BUT WE WANT MORE..
"A real graduation gala..
SALUTE - Remembering World War
Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier
22/05/2015 - 25/06/2015
"Movement knows no bounds..
"Dancers give everything they have..
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LADY LIBERTY
Wellington
02/03/2015 - 06/03/2015
"Explosive blockbuster of sound and synergy..
