DANZ QUARTERLY No 1 September 2005

Getting Together

by Diana Plesovs

Newly formed DanceScene New Zealand Trust Launched

Inspiration: "Work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and Dance like no one's watching." Anon

Motto: Dance is fun. You get to meet new people in a friendly, non-threatening environment, build self-confidence and social skills, enjoy music, and keep fit at the same time.

Aspiration: To bring dance to all people and all people to dance with no exclusion!

These quotes are the driving force behind the newly established DanceScene New Zealand Community Dance. The Trust is the brainchild of its CEO Nita Henry, who lives and works from her home in Lyttleton. At the height of her career as a fashion designer and painter, with several Benson and Hedges fashion awards to her credit, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. She had to restructure her whole life, which went from a full-on stressful life to spending years mainly lying in bed. When she got better, she discovered dance, and the exhilaration of using her body again.

Nita was introduced to Salsa three years ago and soon became addicted to Latin dancing. She found herself immersed in the wider dance scene around Christchurch, which offers a wealth of dance parties and pub dancing events.

She discovered there was a lack of an integrated information source about dance events. She realised that when people belonged to a dance school, they knew all about that particular school's events but not about what others were doing. Exclusion of relevant events was commonplace. She believed a neutral territory was needed, without prejudice. So, three years ago, Nita and partner Dave Dennis, began a free e-mail service notifying people about dance events. Eventually they decided a web page was needed to post information and to be self-monitoring.

Consequently, DanceScene NZ Trust was developed this year as a non-profit community trust. Its aims are to create community awareness about dance, bring dance to a wide audience, to get people of all ages involved, to provide a monthly calendar and nation-wide links to dance events. DanceScene also provides a means for different dance styles to promote themselves for a reasonable fee and to link NZ to the world of dance. They will also gather sponsorship, fees and promote fundraising events that will enable DanceScene NZ to cover operating costs. Any profits will be reinvested in the development of DanceScene and the promotion of dance.

The Trust consists of seven members who are involved in a variety of dance forms, are passionate about dance and dedicated to promoting its benefits. The Trust's first fundraising effort was held on the weekend of 15-17 July.
On the Friday evening there was a feast of fashion, dance and music and prizes, held in the Cashmere Club,
Christchurch. Early guests received a goodies bag of sponsors samples and discounts and a dance concession card to the value of $140.00.

Stayz from Y We Dance in Wanganui was MC for the evening and provided a Salsa
demonstration with his dance partner Pauline. Stayz's youth dance troupe has been invited to perform at the Salsa Congress in LA next May, and they are busy fundraising.

The party night also showcased a variety of dance styles including Hip Hop, Belly Dance, Swing, Ceroc, Latin American, Rueda, Rock n' Roll, Salsa, Bollywood, Flamenco, Samba and Capoeira. General dancing by the large crowd of over 400 people followed. DanceScene was fortunate to secure a special guest from Australia, Oliver Pineda, who provided an inspiring solo performance to an Afro-Cuban rhythm. His new style is now considered uniquely Australian Style Salsa. Although trained in DanceSport, Oliver chose to pursue the music and dance of his
Latin American roots. He is the IDO World Champion Salsa dancer and an international dance teacher and
choreographer with his own dance company Latin Motion.

Oliver also provided unlimited energy in a feast of Salsa workshops over the weekend. They ranged from beginner to advanced and included smooth turns and shines, instrumental musical interpretation, performance tips, show stopping dips and tricks, body isolations and movement, and men's and ladies styling. It was an exhilarating and worthwhile weekend for the general public and teachers who have now enriched their knowledge of Salsa and now
will be teaching the New York lineal style for the first time in NZ.

DanceScene is now looking ahead to develop its web site and plan its next programme of dance events. So keep an eye on www.dancescene.org.nz

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