Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) has secured some of New Zealand’s renowned practitioners for Together/Moving Forward: A National Dance Hui, from the emerging to the established to share their experiences in the industry. These include Arts Foundation Laureates Daniel Belton, Shona McCullagh, Michael Parmenter and Lemi Ponifasio. Also involved are Okareka Dance Company's Taane Mete, Muscle Mouth's Ross McCormack, from the South Island Julia Harvie of Movement Art Practice and Adam Hayward from Hyde Productions, plus emerging dance artists Jahra Wasasala and Kosta Bogoievski. You can view the whole programme here!

It has been over 10 years since there was a gathering of the contemporary dance sector in New Zealand; come November DANZ will be alleviating this gap with Together/Moving Forward: A National Dance Hui. “I’m very interested in the notion of a community; how a group of people, in the same place with a common interest, can work collectively to achieve shared goals,” say DANZ Chief Executive, Anton Carter.

The Hui, which will be held on 21 and 22 November in The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC), aims to allow for tangible benefits to occur from a shared gathering or collective experience. It is an opportunity for the sector to meet face to face, network and discuss, share, debate, learn, challenge, reflect and contribute to the dance community in New Zealand.

The two days will consist of a number of presentations, panels and forums by industry experts around the four themes of:
Audience First - Growing a fan base/Production of dance in New Zealand
Collaboration is Gold - Working with others/Independent artist network
Facts & Myths - Being realistic/Knowing how the arts/dance industry operates
The Money-Go-Round - The funding game/Sustained development for choreographers

Though the Hui will be primarily focused on contemporary dance, DANZ welcomes all people of the arts community to attend. The evening of 21 November will include a programme of performances followed by a networking opportunity which will be open to the public.  

“This is a rare opportunity for dance people to benefit from the collective knowledge of this group of accomplished individuals, to learn from each other, work together and be part of the change to move the contemporary dance sector forward’, says Anton.”

You can register to attend now at eventbrite.co.nz - $50 general admission, or $30 for DANZ members and students.