The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra entered into the spirit of the Rugby World Cup last Friday when it welcomed internationally renowned dance choreographer Royston Maldoom to New Zealand.

The official welcome commenced with a powhiri at Orakei Marae, Auckland, from 9.30am, and was also attended by dignitaries including Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra entered into the spirit of the Rugby World Cup last Friday when it welcomed internationally renowned dance choreographer Royston Maldoom to New Zealand.

The official welcome commenced with a powhiri at Orakei Marae, Auckland, from 9.30am, and was also attended by dignitaries including Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales.

Maldoom is in New Zealand to act as choreographer and artistic director of Sacre: The Auckland Dance Project.

Sacre is staged in association with the REAL New Zealand Festival for Rugby World Cup 2011, and brings together 190 young people from north, south, east and west Auckland, drawn from decile one to 10 schools.

For the last few months, the young dancers have been attending workshops with the APO’s own education team and leading New Zealand dance professionals Ann Dewey, Taiaroa Royal and Moss Patterson.

From Monday 12 September, Maldoom takes full control, with the first rehearsals involving Hay Park and New Lynn schools, and, later the same day, Tangaroa College, Kristin School and dance students from the University of Auckland.

On 14 October, the project ends with a contemporary dance performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at the Aotea Centre with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and its Music Director, Eckehard Stier.

Project coordinator Sally Markham says that Sacre can open doors into wider worlds. “It’s about creating opportunities that young people would never have: dancing on a professional stage, performing with a live orchestra, working with a world famous artistic director; these are not the sorts of things most people get to do.”

But, Markham adds, the social aims are as important as artistic ones. “The chance to work with other students is a big thing; the people in this project come from worlds that may not ordinarily intersect. These projects where professional arts sectors are put next to community and education sectors are important because they create opportunities for change.”

Barbara Glaser, Chief Executive of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, says that the APO is proud to present Sacre: The Auckland Dance Project. “This is something we’ve been planning for a few years, so to have finally reached this point is special for us. Royston is an international star who has worked with many of the world’s leading orchestras and it’s lovely to have him in New Zealand. He has indicated his interest in New Zealand culture, so we’re delighted that Ng?ti Wh?tua o Orakei agreed to host the p?whiri. I’d also like to thank the REAL New Zealand Festival for having faith in what we’re trying to achieve. This is a big project that involves hundreds of people, and it’s fitting that we launched Sacre on the same day that the Rugby World Cup opened.”

Royston Maldoom: Biography

The British choreographer Royston Maldoom (born Harrow 1943) has been the initiator and leader of numerous dance projects all around the globe for the past 30 years.

When Royston was 20 he saw a movie of the Royal Ballet. His passion for dance was awakened and he immediately joined a local Cambridge dance school; he subsequently trained with many of the leading dance organisations.

In 1975, after winning the tenth International Choreographic Competition in Bagnolet, Paris, he received the Foundation of France Prize for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for his first choreographic work. Numerous other international commissions followed.

In 1996 this led him to Ethiopia where, with Mags Byrne, he organised a dance project with 100 street kids. Following the project’s success, they established the Adugna Dance Company, giving young people the opportunity to be educated in dance, choreography and teaching. Students have gone on to work internationally as choreographers, dancers and teachers.

In 2000 Royston initiated a project with dancers from the Ballet of the University of San Marcos, Lima, helping them to set up and deliver community projects with and for socially handicapped children in Peru.

From 1989 to 1997 he was the choreographer and artistic director for the German-British Youth Dance Exchange Program in Berlin. In the last few years he has worked extensively with orchestras and cultural institutions in Germany.

The dance project Le Sacre du Printemps with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle, in which 250 children and young people participated, gained popular attention through the movie Rhythm is it! For their work, Royston, the orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle received the Special Schiller Award of the City of Mannheim.

Along with other international awards, in 2005 Maldoom received the German Honours Prize in Dance (Deutscher Ehren-Tanzpreis) in Essen for his continuous and groundbreaking engagement for dance throughout the years.

In 2006 Royston Maldoom was awarded an OBE for Services to Dance. In 2007 he received the German-British Forum Award for his engagement for the Anglo-German relations in London and the prize of the ‘Club der Optimisten’ in Hamburg.