In commemoration of the ANZAC centenary, the New Zealand Dance Company is making its first ever tour of Australia.The company is bringing Rotunda, choreographed by founding co-artistic director Shona McCullagh.
Rotunda brings to life a snapshot of our history, the world of the band rotunda, where troops were farewelled with pride and welcomed home in grieving. The work celebrates and commemorates the ANZAC spirit and explores themes of loyalty, suffering, kinship and ultimately a desire for peace.
The NZ Dance Company is based in Auckland and is the country's only full-time contemporary company. Rotunda is its first full-length work. It has already toured NZ and has made an appearance at the Holland Festival last year.
Rotunda combines the exhilarating contemporary dance style with Maori tradition and the traditional dynamic of brass band salutes which were integral to the seeing off and welcoming home of troops at war. A big brass band performs live on stage – in each state the company will be working with a local brass band which will need to learn choreography and the music for the performances. “This is a beautiful opportunity to acknowledge the ANZAC spirit that exists between NZ and Australia,” McCullagh says. “Rotunda acknowledges the birth of this ANZAC partnership and the long standing camaraderie that exists between the two countries.”
McCullagh has previously worked with leading arts companies including Limbs, Douglas Wright Dance Company and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Her cross-platform career has seen her creating choreography for several NZ production companies with works including, Hurtle (1998), Mad Angels (1999), Fly (2001), Break (2004), Verge (2005), Mondo Nuovo (2007) and Tethered (2009). She has also developed an international reputation as an award-winning and innovative filmmaker with all of her dance films being screened at the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival (France). McCullagh has been the recipient of many awards including Metro Magazine’s Best Dancer (1988) Arts Foundation Laureate Award (2002) and a New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to dance (2007). She was also granted the role of head choreographer for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony. Her works have toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim.
For a sneak preview of Rotunda, see below
Dates:
Adelaide
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
1-2 May
Melbourne
The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne
7 – 9 May
Parramatta
Riverside Theatre, Parramatta
13 – 16 May
Geelong
Geelong Performing Arts Centre
21 – 23 May