Maggie Burke's retirement has been the inspiration for a celebratory concert to be held this Sunday evening in Christchurch.

Maggie has been well-known as a dancer, choreographer, critic for the Listener and other dance reviews, and an influential teacher of dancers and actors.Maggie Burke's retirement has been the inspiration for a celebratory concert to be held this Sunday evening in Christchurch.

Maggie has been well-known as a dancer, choreographer, critic for the Listener and other dance reviews, and an influential teacher of dancers and actors.Maggie has taken early retirement due to health challenges. Though a recent spinal surgery has brought a somewhat improved mobility, it has not allowed her to resume her greatest passion - working as a teacher of actors and dancers. Past students, colleagues and friends are invited to join her for this special occasion and opportunity to honour her enlivening contribution to the arts.

Maggie's early training was in Wellington and included time with the Royal NZ Ballet Company. In London's she gained dancing and teaching experience at the Rambert Ballet School. Gary Cockerill Dance Centre introduced her to Jazz Dance. "I'd come home at last!" Maggie recalls. She studied both American free-style Jazz, and modern styles and techniques, including Graham technique.

After teaching for 4 years in London she returned to New Zealand. In Christchurch, set up what was to become the large and successful Dancer's Studio in Christchurch. This was in the seventies and countless students came to the many classes that were offered.
During the 70's she also choreographed and danced in the TV programme POP CO, choreographed Fashion Shows, and from 1977 taught Breathing for Birth classes for the Home Birth Association. This aspect of her moving and breathing teaching continued for over 30 years.

More experience was passed on over a teaching career of four decades. She taught classic jazz, children's and adult ballet and 40's and over dance. Over the years she has also taught open classes in Dance/Movement Awareness, Tai Chi Chuan and a Limited Mover's class for the physically disabled,

For fourteen years Maggie Burke taught for the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art. As the Co-ordinator of the Dance and Movement programme, she has been a tutor in dance, movement for acting and a movement coach for productions. She also co-ordinated the transformation of the movement program of this institutional from one that offered movement and dancing trainers for "actors" to one who trained full "triple threat" singer/actor/dancers aiming for professional musical theatre careers.

EVENT DETAILS: CELEBRATORY BENEFIT CONCERT
To honour the lifetime contribution of Dancer/Choreographer/Teacher, MAGGIE BURKE

Sunday 19th of October, 2008
in the Chapel at the Music Centre in Barbadoes Street at
6 .00 pm
Tickets are $20.00 and $10.00 for students/unwaged

To reserve tickets, or to send a note or a card or to make a donation.
Please Contact Caroline: carolinemaze@paradise.net.nz or phone 351 7535