16 Jan 2018
Natalie Maria Clark has been selected for a residency with one of the most influential contemporary dance companies in South East Asia.
Her residency, which is supported by Creative New Zealand and the Asia New Zealand Foundation, is at the Human Expression Dance Company (T.H.E.)
“Congratulations to Natalie for this singular privilege to take on this prestigious residency,” said Simon Draper, executive director of the Foundation.
"We hope this opportunity to collaborate with fellow performance artists in Asia provides her with artistic insights that she can bring home with her,” he said.
A freelance contemporary dancer and choreographer, Natalie is the artistic director of her own collective, Black Sheep Productions, which has presented several works all around New Zealand. She is a producer and creative assistant for Foster Group, headed by Sarah Foster-Sproull, who was the previous Kiwi choreographer resident at T.H.E.
Natalie's career highlights include choreographing for Footnote NZ Dance and for music videos for Doprah and Suren Unka. She performed for Malia Johnston, Red Leap Theatre and at the New Zealand Fashion Week.
She has also worked in various roles with Okareka Dance Company including as rehearsal director for the production Mana Wahine. Natalie graduated from Unitec’s Contemporary Dance Programme in 2011.
During her residency, Natalie plans to use celestial concepts as inspiration for choreographic imagery and movement, particularly the constellation of Leo to represent the Merlion — the symbol of Singapore — and its connotations of courage and strength.
“I want to capture both the New Zealand and Asian perspectives in my choreography, particularly the sense of peace that one feels when gazing at the stars and realising one’s own place in the world,” says Natalie.
The T.H.E. Dance Company residency is part of the Foundation’s arts and culture programme.
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