09 Apr 2014
'Language of Living' national tour
The New Zealand Dance Company brings their exquisite choreography, dancers and design direct to the heartland in a tour de force this April and May.
Launching in Invercargill at the Southland Festival on April 29, the Language of Living 2014 National Tour will then head north with one night only performances in Christchurch, Nelson, New Plymouth and Tauranga.
Language of Living is the realisation of company founder and Artistic Director Shona McCullagh’s vision to create new connections to dance. As Head Choreographer for the 2011 Rugby World Cup’s Opening Ceremony McCullagh witnessed the amazing national and international response to the spectacle that celebrated New Zealand’s creativity.
This passion for creative endeavour saw The New Zealand Dance Company founded in 2011, which has quickly established a formidable reputation for cutting-edge choreography, a commitment to high production values and dancers of fierce physicality. The company’s vision is to attract new audiences to dance by demystifying the art form and fostering partnerships with other creative practitioners in fresh and inventive collaborations.
One of the most inspirational North Island dance tours of last year, Language of Living is a diverse programme of five exquisite, earthy, witty and beautiful works by five New Zealand choreographers. In Language of Living, audiences can expect a state of the art, uniquely integrated sound and lighting experience, along with a celebration of the different cultures within the company.
“It’s the diversity of styles, genre, and design approach that makes this programme so accessible. I guarantee that everyone will discover a unique and personal connection to something unexpected within the evening’s programme,” says McCullagh.
Described by 2013 reviewers as “a total triumph for all concerned….with dancers at the top of their game”, the 2014 programme premieres a brand new work by NZDC dancer Tupua Tigafua set to music by Samoan singer Sekai Mailata and Vivaldi, in addition to established ‘superstar’ of New Zealand dance Michael Parmenter sharing the billing with Arts Laureate McCullagh, Sarah Foster-Sproull and company dancer Justin Haiu.
Creative alchemy is brought to life in Language of Living through a visual feast of stunning costume, video, light and set design created by Andreas Mikellis, Gerbrand van Melle, Matthew Marshall and Sue Gallagher respectively. The rich sound design of the show includes compositions by Arts Laureate Gareth Farr, Eden Mulholland (ex Motocade), CPE Bach and South Auckland’s The Electric Boutique. The New Zealand Dance Company’s 2013 tour of the North Island played to capacity houses.
On their recent first international outing at the prestigious Holland Dance Festival, The New Zealand Dance Company received acclaim for their performances. While the Dutch press praised the rhythmic passion of the dancers, and particularly noted the theatricality of the company, the international audiences responded with standing ovations at every show.
“It’s great to be on the international stage, celebrated by European arts festival fans. But we are equally excited to be bringing our work to new audiences on our home turf and connecting with local young dancers through our Youth Engagement Programme known as YEP! In Tauranga and New Plymouth some of the region’s most talented young dancers will share the stage with us in company dancer Justin Haiu’s work, Release Your Robot, and we are holding YEP! workshops in Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Te Puke, Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland” says McCullagh.
The New Zealand Language of Living National Tour is presented by Westpac, with core funding from Creative New Zealand and sustaining support from ASB Community Trust.
Tickets are now on sale.
Full venue and ticketing information is available at www.nzdc.org.nz
Media Contact:
Bridget de Launay / de Launay Enterprises
Email: Bridget@delaunayenterprises.co.nz
Ph: (09) 361-6600 / Mobile: 021-630-622
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