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The first ever illustrated history of dance in New Zealand takes readers on a journey never seen before.

A fascinating account of our social history, Dance: The Illustrated History of Dance in New Zealand, offers a bird's eye view of dance in New Zealand over the past 100 years and readers are treated to images from private collections that have never before been revealed to the public.The first ever illustrated history of dance in New Zealand takes readers on a journey never seen before.

A fascinating account of our social history, Dance: The Illustrated History of Dance in New Zealand, offers a bird's eye view of dance in New Zealand over the past 100 years and readers are treated to images from private collections that have never before been revealed to the public.Focusing on the many resilient and highly creative personalities associated with dance in New Zealand, the book begins in the early 1900s, moves to the 1920s when legends like Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova toured the country, and through to the establishment of the Royal NZ Ballet in 1953.

The dance crazes of each decade are covered, such as rock and roll and the twist, and the book ends with the vibrant and multicultural dance environment of today including kapa haka, ceroc, break dancing and crumping, to name just a few examples.

Author Tara Jahn-Werner meticulously researched and spoke with international and local dance personalities and concludes there is one word that sums up dance in New Zealand and all its supporters - resilience.

"Despite our geographic isolation, there is a rich and energetic tradition of creative talent in this country," she says.

"Internationally renowned dancers and choreographers toured here as far back as the early 1900s and the effect they had on local dancers and dance teachers lasted generations."

This inspiration combined with the dancing efforts of the highly creative, strong and brave emigres of the 1940s and 1950s, created the foundations of a very strong dance community.

"Some of these personalities are household names, others have disappeared into obscurity, but it is important we remember the important roles they played," says Jahn-Werner. "Thanks to them, we are by no means a cultural backwater - we are up there with the best on the world stage in Europe and New York."

The book also delves into the structure of New Zealand's multicultural society and discovers how our nation was affected by and responded to wider world events and in turn what influence all this had on our creative artists.

With the support of our leading dancers, choreographers and commentators such as Douglas Wright, Russell Kerr, Mary-Jane O'Reilly, Michael Parmenter, Shona Dunlop MacTavish, Neil Ieremia, and Jan Bolwell, this is a comprehensive book that will be appreciated by dancers, choreographers and dance-lovers alike.

'After meticulously researching and editing information compiled over decades, Tara Jahn-Werner has created a most rewarding account of a century of dance in New Zealand.' - Russell Kerr, QSM ONZM