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01PHILOSOPHY MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR 03 THE SCHOOL 05 FACILITIES 06 TRAINING 12 GRADUATES 15 LIVING IN WELLINGTON 17INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 23 HOW TO APPLY 25 CONTACT INFORMATION Front Cover NZSD classical ballet student Patrick Nawalowalo McCrory Back Cover NZSD contemporary dance students Mrie Jones Aleeya McFadyen Rew All photographs by Stephen A Court unless otherwise stated OUR PHILOSOPHY KAUPAPA Kia ora mai ttou Ng mihi ki a ttou For those who desire a career in dance the New Zealand School of Dance offers a programme of consummate excellence We strengthen not only the dancer s body but also the spirit of our students The development of self motivation selfdiscipline grace physical adroitness and an appreciation for the arts will help any student immeasurably in whatever path lies ahead The School offers a unique training environment for the next generation of gifted young dancers With world class facilities teaching staff and repertoire we focus on preparing students for the demands of the dance world and their future place in it Precision cannot be acquired quickly and beauty does not come easily If you are adaptable open minded and willing to work hard the New Zealand School of Dance is the place for you Garry Trinder MNZM Director THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE NZSD HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SHAPING THE DANCE CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY NZSD IS A LEADING DANCE TRAINING INSTITUTION THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN PROFESSIONAL DANCE PERFORMANCE WHILE EXTENDING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE ART FORM Danielle Brown Dancetrain Magazine NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 01
THE SCHOOL The New Zealand School of Dance is one of the southern hemisphere s leading dance training institutions preparing students for careers in professional dance performance Established in 1967 the School has an international reputation It is known for producing versatile and employable dancers skilled in classical ballet and contemporary dance The School s unique training develops qualities that meet the needs of the dance profession while extending the boundaries of the art form A REMARKABLE AND INVALUABLE TERTIARY INSTITUTION Brigitte Knight DANZ The architecturally designed purpose built facilities are located in Wellington New Zealand Around eighty gifted young dancers study full time at the School In recent years these have included students from Australia Brazil China Hong Kong Japan Malaysia New Zealand Singapore Taiwan and the United States of America An impressive faculty of teaching staff choreographers and international guest tutors assist students to achieve two or three year qualifications in dance performance Most graduates enter careers in dance performance many gaining contracts within six months of graduating Former students have gone on to make significant contributions to dance leading outstanding careers and dancing with top companies around the world The New Zealand School of Dance is a partner school of the Prix de Lausanne and provides scholarships through the Japan Grand Prix Youth America Grand Prix and Asian Grand Prix ballet competitions Top Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre Left NZSD Graduation Ceremony 2022 Photo by AT Photography Right NZSD Graduation Ceremony 2022 Classical ballet student Danielle Taylor with Peter Mersi Chair of the NZSD Board of Trustees Photo by AT Photography 02 NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 03
NZSD classical ballet students Charlotte Willis Joshua Douglas 04 THE DANCING ITSELF WHICH IS PRIMARILY WHAT WE RE HERE FOR IS BEAUTIFULLY MODULATED AND IMPECCABLY PERFORMED ALL THESE PERFORMERS CAN EXPECT TO FIND PROFESSIONAL CAREERS AND GOOD WORK SOMEWHERE ONE IS AN ABSOLUTE KNOCKOUT AND WOULD SCORE A JOB TOMORROW IN MANY A COMPANY WORLDWIDE Jennifer Shennan Michelle Potter On Dancing EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES Te Whaea National Dance Drama Centre is home to the New Zealand School of Dance Located on Wellington s green belt nature reserve five minutes drive from the heart of the city Te Whaea is architecturally designed with large spaces and high ceilings contributing to an exhilarating atmosphere The centre includes nine fully equipped studios a 160 seat theatre design and costume workshops lighting and AV studios student common room student computers and Wi Fi and New Zealand s foremost performing arts library For conditioning strength and healthcare New Zealand School of Dance students have access to a Pilates studio onsite gym and Gyrotonic equipment Safe dance practice is of paramount importance and the staff includes a team of physiotherapists osteopath performance psychologist nutritionist healthcare and counselling specialists The School shares the premises with Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School Te Whaea pronounced teh fire means the mother in te reo Mori NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 05
WORLD CLASS TRAINING The New Zealand School of Dance full time course prepares graduates for the multifaceted repertoire demanded of a professional dancer in the 21st century The School provides world class training to students between the ages of 16 and 20 Students complete either a two or a three year intensive training programme in classical ballet or contemporary dance while maintaining a strong grounding in both subject areas The classical programme consists of classical ballet technique contemporary dance technique pas de deux classical variations and pointe Separate men s classes focus on the physical strength of male dancing with particular emphasis on elevation pirouettes and batterie The contemporary programme consists of contemporary dance technique classical ballet technique contemporary repertoire partnering yoga choreographic practice and improvisation Graduates of the School leave with a strong technical skill base as well as an open minded approach to a career path that is wide varied and relevant NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMA IN DANCE LEVEL 6 The New Zealand Diploma in Dance Level 6 is a twoyear course that equips students for a performance career in dance Upon completion graduates will be prepared and ready to enter either a third year working towards a New Zealand School of Dance Diploma in Dance Performance Level 7 or their first professional industry placement The first year focuses on the foundation of technique for both classical ballet and contemporary dance It also introduces a range of allied subjects both practical and academic In the second year students continue to refine their technical strengths develop performance skills and dance in regular performances The NZ Diploma in Dance includes a strong choreographic component for both contemporary dance and classical ballet students along with a focus on professional development and selfmanagement Other subjects that complement their time in the studio include nutrition dance history anatomy and physiology and music studies NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE DIPLOMA IN DANCE PERFORMANCE LEVEL 7 The New Zealand School of Dance Diploma in Dance Performance Level 7 is recognised at the same level as an undergraduate degree The third year of training at the School focusses on performance skills offering students a range of diverse experiences both within the School and externally Students must have completed the New Zealand Diploma in Dance Level 6 before enrolling for the Level 7 diploma course one additional year of study Secondments and professional placements are an important part of the final year of training providing the opportunity for students to work off site with a dance company for up to 12 weeks of term time Dancers gain exposure industry knowledge and build a network of contacts through these secondments which can lead to professional contracts Students have the opportunity to perform in the School s end of year Performance Season a collection of works curated to showcase the creativity technical ability and exquisite talent of students at the School Contemporary students choreograph their own works for the Choreographic Season produced every winter As part of this season students collaborate with 06 NZSD contemporary dance students lighting designers costume designers production and stage managers from Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School Through this project the students are introduced to aspects of collaboration and production Throughout the third year all students maintain their studies in classical ballet and contemporary dance technique and learn a diverse range of repertoire in readiness for the industry They also receive advice on career planning Both academic and theoretical classes are regularly reviewed through formal and informal assessments Entry into the third year of the School is not automatic but is based on achievement and commitment demonstrated throughout first and second year YOUNG DANCER PROGRAMMES Our Young Dancer Programmes YDP include Summer Intensive Enhance and Winter School held annually and Contemporary Intensive Programme held throughout the year Associates and Scholars are also part of the YDP These provide a foundation on the path to becoming a professional dancer and an opportunity for aspiring full time students to experience training at the School The School is funded by the Ministry of Education through the Tertiary Education Commission TEC and is registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority NZQA as a private training establishment The New Zealand Diploma in Dance and the New Zealand School of Dance Diploma in Dance Performance sit at Level 6 and Level 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework respectively The Level 7 Diploma is equivalent to an undergraduate degree allowing the possibility of postgraduate study and many career pathways NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 07
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Sarah Foster Sproull Photo by Dean Carruthers Harrison James in Apollo Photo by Karolina Kuras courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada HARRISON JAMES Harrison James joined the New Zealand School of Dance Associates Programme in 2004 and went on to begin full time dance studies at the School in 2007 After his time at the New Zealand School of Dance Harrison James continued his dance education at the San Francisco Ballet School He began his professional career at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet followed by B jart Ballet Lausanne Switzerland Harrison performed works by eminent choreographer Maurice B jart in Japan Russia Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres Brazil France Italy and Belgium WITHOUT THE VERSATILITY IN DANCE TRAINING THE WORK ETHIC INSTILLED AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT FROM THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE WHAT I HAVE ACHIEVED TO THIS DAY WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN OCCURRED TO ME AS A POSSIBILITY Harrison James Principal Dancer The National Ballet of Canada Toronto In 2013 Harrison accepted a contract with the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto and was promoted to his current position as Principal Dancer in 2016 SARAH FOSTER SPROULL After graduating from the New Zealand School of Dance Sarah Foster Sproull progressed into a diverse performance career working for some of New Zealand s most exciting choreographers including Raewyn Hill Malia Johnston Michael Parmenter and Douglas Wright Sarah was a founding dancer and choreographer of the New Zealand Dance Company under the Artistic Direction of Shona McCullagh Since then she has pursued a choreographic career in New Zealand and internationally This includes choreographing works for the New Zealand School of Dance the Royal New Zealand Ballet Footnote New Zealand Dance Tamsyn Russell and Dance Base Edinburgh Guangdong Modern Dance Company China The Human Expression Dance Company Singapore and VOU Fiji She is currently the Choreographer in Residence at the Royal New Zealand Ballet Artistic Director of Foster Group Dance Senior Lecturer in the Dance Studies programme at the University of Auckland and was Creative New Zealand s Choreographic Fellow for 2017 2019 Sarah is a Distinguished Graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance and holds a Master s Degree in Dance Studies First Class Hons from the University of Auckland DURING MY THREE YEARS AT THE SCHOOL I ATTAINED CAREERESSENTIAL SKILLS IN CREATIVITY COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION AND CRITICAL THINKING NOW WHEN I RETURN TO TEACH OR CREATE CHOREOGRAPHY WITH THE STUDENTS I AM REMINDED OF THE GIFT OF AN EDUCATION IN THE ARTS THE NOTION THAT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT DANCING BUT ALSO ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY QUESTIONING EXPERIMENTING WILDLY AND FORGING NEW PATHWAYS AND VISIONS OF DANCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Sarah Foster Sproull Artistic Director of Foster Group Dance Choreographer in Residence Royal New Zealand Ballet and Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellow 08 NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 09
Loughlan Prior NZSD contemporary dance student Elliot Gordon LOUGHLAN PRIOR Loughlan Prior graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2009 and immediately joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet where he rose to the rank of Soloist performing landmark works by William Forsythe Ji Kyli n Alexander Ekman and Sarah Foster Sproull Loughlan has distinguished himself as a considerable choreographic talent being the first recipient of the Ballet Foundation of New Zealand s Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award in 2015 In 2019 he premiered the highly acclaimed Hansel Gretel his first full length production for the Royal New Zealand Ballet His choreographic commissions include works for the New Zealand School of Dance Queensland Ballet Singapore Ballet Palucca Hochschule f r Tanz Dresden Lo Co Arts and BalletCollective Aotearoa THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE IS KNOWN FOR PRODUCING TECHNICALLY STRONG VERSATILE AND CREATIVE DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS IT S CLEAR TO SEE BY THE VAST NUMBER OF GRADUATES FORGING INSPIRING CAREERS HERE IN NEW ZEALAND AND INTERNATIONALLY THAT THERE IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PLACE Loughlan Prior Choreographer in Residence Royal New Zealand Ballet Loughlan is the Creative Director of Prior Visual a Distinguished Graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance and was appointed to the position of Royal New Zealand Ballet Choreographer in Residence in 2018 10 NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 11
NZSD GRADUATES CAN BE SEEN DANCING WITH Akram Khan Company UK Australasian Dance Collective AU The Australian Ballet AU Australian Dance Theatre AU Ballet Arizona US Black Grace NZ Co 3 Australia AU Dancenorth AU Footnote New Zealand Dance NZ Hofesh Shechter II UK Houston Ballet US Java Dance Company NZ Les Grands Ballets Canadiens CA The National Ballet of Canada CA New Zealand Dance Company NZ Queensland Ballet AU Rambert UK Royal New Zealand Ballet NZ Singapore Ballet SG Studio Wayne McGregor UK Sydney Dance Company AU West Australian Ballet AU THE END OF EACH YEAR IS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT FOR THE NZSD AS THE STRENGTH OF NEW TALENT AND THE RESULT OF THEIR TRAINING COMES INTO FOCUS THERE IS TALENT APLENTY AND THE STRONG CONFIDENT DANCERS OF 2022 OWN THE STAGE IN BOTH CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY STYLES Deirdre Tarrant Theatreview 12 NZSD classical ballet students NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 13
SURROUNDED BY HILLS AND A SPARKLING HARBOUR WELLINGTON IS A LITTLE CITY WITH A BIG HEART WellingtonNZ NZSD students Charlotte Willis Joshua Linkhorn Aleeya McFadyen Rew and Mrie Jones Photo by Lokyee Photography 14 LIVING IN WELLINGTON The New Zealand School of Dance is based in New Zealand s capital city Wellington a beautiful city alive with cosmopolitan culture and a creative atmosphere Nestled between a stunning natural harbour and tree covered hills Wellington is a small city ideal for walking around Art galleries theatres outdoor activities and hundreds of cafes and restaurants can all be found in close proximity to the School Multicultural and globally connected the city has a rich arts scene It houses many national dance theatre film and music institutions including the Royal New Zealand Ballet Footnote NZ Dance Wingnut Films Weta Workshop Lord of the Rings King Kong the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa the New Zealand Film Archive and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Wellington hosts events such as the NZ Festival the International Film Festival the LUX Light Festival and the World of Wearable Art It is a hub for performing arts training home to the New Zealand School of Music Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School and the New Zealand School of Dance Located on a peninsula at the bottom of the North Island Wellington s climate is moderate with distinct summer and winter seasons The temperature ranges between a low of 6 degrees Celsius in July and a high of 28 degrees in February ACCOMMODATION Massey University Wellington Halls accommodate NZSD students at The Cube Hall located at 242 Taranaki Street a 15 minute walk from the School The Cube is a residential building comprising of sixty shared self catered apartments of three and five bedrooms and 11 single studio apartments This modern accommodation is fully furnished to a high standard with Wi Fi in all rooms and common areas a common room and recreation room Meal plans for residents are available The Cube s studios are modern and spacious with open plan living and a separate bathroom with shower These rooms include a double bed TV table two wardrobes desks and chairs pinboard dining table and two chairs two seater sofa stove top oven mini fridge and sink All studios have lockable doors privacy blinds opening windows and heating The Cube s apartments offer comfortable furnishings with each having their own bedroom including a double bed desk chair wardrobe and pinboard In addition apartment kitchens are equipped with a stove top oven fridge freezer and sink Common areas include a dining table with chairs couches coffee and TV table heater and a separate shower and toilet The facility provides a secure and managed environment All apartments and studios have secure lockable main doors and opening windows fitted with security stays The building has a number of security cameras and each floor has a senior student called a Residential Assistant RA living onsite In addition two senior staff also reside onsite NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 15
NZSD classical ballet students Kaiserin Darongsuwan Stella Heetkamp 16 THE NZSD WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS In recent years students from Australia Brazil Canada China Hong Kong Japan Malaysia New Zealand Singapore Taiwan and the USA have trained at the New Zealand School of Dance The New Zealand School of Dance has support systems in place to assist international students The School has a Student Support Manager who provides advice to help students adjust to full time training and life in New Zealand All classes at the New Zealand School of Dance are taught in English Students need to understand conversational English and may be required to study the language while at the School Students must undertake an English language course before arriving at the School if their level of English is lower than B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Students Can Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work school leisure etc Deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken Produce simple connected texts on topics which are familiar or of personal interest Describe experiences and events dreams hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans International students must have a student visa from Immigration New Zealand before arriving to study in New Zealand For information regarding immigration The Education Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice 2021 fees eligibility for health services and insurance visit nzschoolofdance ac nz The New Zealand School of Dance has agreed to observe and be bound by The Education Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice 2021 published by the Minister of Education The code is published in a number of different languages and is available from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority STANDARDS ARE HIGH ACROSS BOTH CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE AND THE DIVERSITY OF REPERTOIRE IS ENCOURAGING NEW ZEALAND MAY BE A LONG WAY AWAY BUT IT S WORTH CHECKING OUT WHAT ONE OF THE PLANET S MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES HAS TO OFFER THE DANCE WORLD Gerard Davis Dance Europe Students from New Zealand Australia Niue the Cook Islands and Tokelau are classified as domestic students for the purposes of study in New Zealand NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 17
New Zealand School of Dance 1967 80 23 75 6 Taranaki 217 1618 11 1RAD Advanced 1 1IDTA Advanced 1 1BBO Advanced 1Cecchetti1 Cecchetti Advanced 1 BAL Intermediate B1 B1 HOW TO APPLY Uni Care 64 4 381 9252 18 NZSD contemporary dance students Mrie Jones Aleeya McFadyen Rew NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 19
NZSD classical ballet student Miguel Herrera 20 NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE NZSD New Zealand School of Dance NZSD 1967NZSD 80 23 75 6 New Zealand School of Dance Taranaki 217 New Zealand School of Dance New Zealand School of Dance 16 18 NCEA Level 1 11 1015 RAD Advanced 1 IDTA Advanced Level 1BBOBritish Ballet OrganizationAdvanced 1Cecchetti Advanced 1BAL Intermediate NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE New Zealand School of Dance CEFRB1 HOW TO APPLY New Zealand School of Dance NZSD NZSDE 64 4 381 9252 21
NZSD contemporary dance students Mrie Jones Anya Down Caterina Moreno 22 HOW TO APPLY THE TRAINING THAT I RECEIVED AT THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE WAS WORLD CLASS AND TO THIS DAY THE INSTITUTION CONTINUES TO SUCCESSFULLY REMAIN ABREAST OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS WITHIN CONSERVATOIRE DANCE EDUCATION I AM DEEPLY PROUD OF MY ASSOCIATION WITH NZSD Raewyn Hill Artistic Director Co 3 Australia Contemporary Dance Company Entry to the New Zealand School of Dance is by audition only At the audition various aspects of the applicant s abilities will be considered potential for training performance qualities commitment musicality creativity literacy and achievement to date Auditions are conducted annually during September October in New Zealand and Australia Applicants who are unable to attend the audition in person may submit a video audition Those accepted by video audition are offered entry to the School on a provisional basis only Applications open midyear and must be submitted online Successful applicants will be notified they have been offered a place at the School by the end of November Further information about the School and the application process are available on our website nzschoolofdance ac nz PRE REQUISITES Students are usually 16 to 18 years old when entering the full time course Preference will be given to students who have attained NCEA Level 1 Yr 11 NZ or Yr 10 Australia and who have reached a level in classical ballet equivalent to RAD Advanced 1 IDTA Advanced level 1 BBO Advanced 1 Cecchetti Advanced 1 BAL Intermediate Students are required to understand conversational English NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE COSTS Course fees costs and application forms are available on the website nzschoolofdance ac nz New Zealand students can apply for a governmentfunded student loan to cover tuition fees and courserelated costs and a student allowance to cover living costs For further information visit studylink govt nz Scholarships are available on the basis of merit and need Students will be considered for scholarships only upon acceptance to the School 23
NZSD classical ballet student Ruby Ryburn 24 MORE INFORMATION MY TIME AT THE NZSD WAS PHENOMENALLY RICH AND FULL OF PERSONAL AND ARTISTIC GROWTH THIS WAS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INCREDIBLY INSPIRATIONAL AND PASSIONATE STAFF AT THE NZSD WHO CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGED ME TO PUSH BOUNDARIES THEY WERE ALL INTEGRAL IN BUILDING ME INTO THE ARTIST I AM TODAY Felix Sampson Company Dancer Dancenorth More information about the New Zealand School of Dance courses costs auditions staff and graduate profiles can be found by visiting our website nzschoolofdance ac nz PO Box 7146 Wellington 6242 Aotearoa New Zealand 64 4 381 9252 dance nzschoolofdance ac nz NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE 25
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