DANZ QUARTERLY Issue No. 8

July, August, September 2007

Editorial

While the nation is captivated by ‘Dancing with the Stars’ it is timely to reflect on the deep dance roots of Aotearoa New Zealand. For Maori, dance is at the core of identity, expressing their connectedness to place, whakapapa and spirit. Kuini Moehau Reedy’s story in this issue reveals something of this world.

Western dance forms – the waltz, quick step and foxtrot - had a central place in NZ culture for generations prior to the advent of television and featured as one of the major forms of entertainment and courtship. The Saturday night dance was the social highlight of the week. As TV One’s current ‘Dancing with the Stars’ exhibits, we are still captivated by the style and romance of these dance forms.

The global village has brought us the vibrancy and electric energy of tango, salsa and hip hop. These, too, find resonance with generations seeking passion wrought from the drama of the oppressed. These combined dance forms are all now being fundamentally woven into our multi-cultural dance fabric.

Danz Quarterly celebrates this variety. Happy reading.

Francesca Horsley
Editor

Whangara Mai Tawhiti perform at Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival

Contents

• Driven by Dance and Dedication by Tania Kopytko
  Vivek Kinra – teacher, performer, choreographer and director of the Mudra Dance Company and NZ Academy of Bharata-Natyam in Wellington.
• Developing the Role of Odette/Odile by Ann Hunt
  Gaylene Cummerfield and Lisa-Marie Cullum’s journey to interpret the role of Odette/Odile from Swan Lake.
• Different Approaches to Dance by Tania Kopytko
  Dance teaching in schools & studios.
• Olive and Otto by Sue Cheesman
  Placing dance outside the theatre – within the body.
• Capturing Dunedin’s Dance Narratives by Catherine Wellington
  Film-maker Katherine Miller captures Dunedin’s Heritage of Dance Festival on film.
• International Dance Day by Celia Jenkins
  Celebrating International Dance Day around New Zealand.
• Festivals Promise Hot Winter by Francesca Horsley
  Francesca looks at the various dance festivals around New Zealand.
• Is Dance in a Growth Phase? by Tania Kopytko & Brian Jones
  The effect of the media and film on New Zealand social dance.
• Kiwis Discover their Latin Hearts by Franscesca Horsley
  Latin dance festivals, the Salsa Congress and the Tango Festival show Latin dance’s gaining popularity in New Zealand.
• Guardian of the Dance by Francesca Horsley
  Kuini Moehau Reedy talks about being a judge for Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival.
• DANZ in Schools – New Zealand Primary & Secondary School Dance
• Dance: Count Me In (Barbara Snook) book review by Jan Bolwell
• Some Practical Considerations for Teaching Dance in Schools
• A resource for teachers of dance by Suzanne Renner
• Dance Network Strategy Launched for Southern Cities by Catherine Wellington
  Establishing a South Island Dance Network
• DANZ Resource – Dance Injury Management by Susan Simpson
• Reviews:
  
  • NZ Hip Hop Championships, reviewed by Sue Cheesman
  • Dance at Auckland Festival 2007, reviewed by Raewyn Whyte
  • Fringe 07 – Highlights, reviewed by Lyne Pringle
  • Bedrock – Sean Curham, reviewed by Dagmar Simon
  • Made in New Zealand – Footnote Dance and Tasdance, reviewed by Ann Hunt
  • Book Review – the Life of Master Choreographer George Balanchine, reviewed by Francesca Horsley

CURRENT ISSUE