DANZ QUARTERLY ISSUE No 22 - January, February, March 2011

Editorial

This year has been a tough year for many people in NZ – the recession is still having an impact on our communities; traumatic natural disasters and financial crises have created shock waves for us as a nation, and we have lost a number of significant dance voices; Rigmor Gnatt, Boukje van Zon,
Joan Irvine, Sheryl Robinson, and dancer writer/historian Jennifer Shennan’s husband ethnomusicologist Allan Thomas. They will be sadly missed.

What is heartening is that the dance community are a resilient lot. Within days of the heart-breaking cancellation of The Body festival, as result of the Christchurch earthquake, artistic director Adam Hayward and his team were looking forward, not back, and planning a blockbuster festival for 2011.

It is also a surprising but wonderful fact that in times of economic hardship, people turn to dance. This year has been no different, as many people headed to the studios to zumba, tango, lindy-hop or salsa – and much more - their blues away.

Nationally this year there were a number of very significant events – Kowhiti, the inaugural Matariki Festival of Contemporary Dance drew together a wealth of Aotearoa’s Ma - ori Dance artists; the growth of the Pacific Dance Fono and the eight week Manukau Pacific Dance Artist in residence project - and happily the construction of Auckland’s Q Theatre finally got underway.

There has been much to celebrate. Our leading artists Lemi Ponifasio, Neil Ieremia and Daniel Belton, among many other dancers and choreographers continue to take NZ’s impressive physicality and passionate ideas to international audiences. Wellington’s International Arts Festival in March, September’s Montana WOW® Awards Show and the three Royal New Zealand Ballet productions gave us the extra pizzazz and joy. It is sad to say goodbye to RNZB artistic director, Gary Harris, he has left us with wonderful memories – it will be great to see him return, albeit briefly, mid – 2011 with a sparkling new Cinderella.

As we head into Christmas and the summer holidays, it’s good to think that despite all the hurdles 2010 brought us, it has been a good year. 2011 will be even better.

Happy Christmas and sunny holidays!

Francesca Horsley
Editor

Cover Image: Justin Haiu, Pacific Artist in Residence, Mangere Arts Centre, 2011
Photo: Manukau Courier

DANZ Quarterly Issue 22 - January, February, March 2011

Contents

Justin Haiu – From Street Dance to Contemporary Fusion
By Aaron Taouma on behalf Pacific Dance New Zealand

Jambalaya Comes to Auckland
By Francesca Horsley

MIXIT – Making the Difference
By Sue Cheesman

rapt – New Work from Douglas Wright
By Raewyn Whyte

Joan Irvine: A life in Dance
By Jo Thorpe

Kilda Northcott – New Zealand’s Dance Legend
By Jenny Stevenson

Parris Goebel – Taking NZ Hip Hop to the Top
By Linda Lim

Working in the Dance Profession – An International View from Anthony Cranwell
By Tania Kopytko

Christchurch Farewells Sheryl Robinson
By Fleur de Thier

REVIEWS:

TEMPO 2010 By Raewyn Whyte
Critic’s Survey 2010 - Ann Hunt (Wellington) and Raewyn Whyte (Auckland)
Line Dances, Daniel Belton and Good Company Review By Bronwyn Judge
Communitas Review By Bronwyn Judge
Christchurch Kids One Step Closer to Dancing Like Stars! By Vanessa Thompson
2010 Footnote Forte Series Review By Ann Hunt

C’est Bon! A French Dance Feast for the 2011 Auckland Festival
By Francesca Horsley