Workshop & Tutor Info
Michael Parmenter
Masterclass Tutor and Forum Participant
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My dance life began with the exploration of my world. At primary school I loved the challenge of the school jungle gym: the precarity, the danger and the sense of achievement when I mastered it's demands. At intermediate School I became a gymnast, but only after an inauspicious exit from university, did I discover modern dance, and fell under the influence of the fabulous Shona Dunlop MacTavish.
From Eric Hawkins, who was in his late 70's when I danced with him in his company, I learned how life moves, with grace, strength and ease. From Min Tanaka, who continues to explore the threshold of dance and the world in his 8th decade, I learned that nature is sometimes violent, ugly and disconnected. And from Renaud Barbaras, my 'prof de philo' at the Sorbonne, I learned that we are creative moving beings because we are called into existence by a world that is ceaselessly 'innovant et exigeant' (innovative and demanding). My latest major choreographic work was OrphEus - a dance opera, created in 2018 for The New Zealand Dance Company. I am currently in rehearsal for Lucy Marinkovich's production Strasborg 1518, for the 2020 New Zealand Festival. I regularly dance tango, swing and Balfolk. |
WORKSHOP : Life Between Us - Strategies for relational movement.
Maintaining an active dance life into the mature years, rests for me on 3 key principles, derived from the knowledge of HOW LIFE LEARNS: RELATIONAL MOVEMENT- NEW GRAMMARS AND PERSONAL PRACTICE.
In the European tradition of individual subjectivity, we tend to focus on the movement of personal identity and creative expression, often removed from any environmental context. I prefer to think of self creation in terms of the demands of a constantly restless and challenging world. I maintain that the fundamental tenant that we learn, as living beings, through our relationships with others, and with the world (most evident in infancy and our earlier years) is no less imperative in our advanced decades. I focus on relational movement, and the challenge of new movement grammars as a practice to keep my body moving and my mind dancing.
In "Life Between Us- Strategies for relational movement" I will share 3 approaches to movement exploration : Piloting, Tactics and Balfolk, that I explore with others of all ages as a means of perpetual renaissance of mind and body.
Maintaining an active dance life into the mature years, rests for me on 3 key principles, derived from the knowledge of HOW LIFE LEARNS: RELATIONAL MOVEMENT- NEW GRAMMARS AND PERSONAL PRACTICE.
In the European tradition of individual subjectivity, we tend to focus on the movement of personal identity and creative expression, often removed from any environmental context. I prefer to think of self creation in terms of the demands of a constantly restless and challenging world. I maintain that the fundamental tenant that we learn, as living beings, through our relationships with others, and with the world (most evident in infancy and our earlier years) is no less imperative in our advanced decades. I focus on relational movement, and the challenge of new movement grammars as a practice to keep my body moving and my mind dancing.
In "Life Between Us- Strategies for relational movement" I will share 3 approaches to movement exploration : Piloting, Tactics and Balfolk, that I explore with others of all ages as a means of perpetual renaissance of mind and body.
Donna Frost and Daniel from Latin Fire
Salsa and Bachata
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The Latin Fire Studio has been spreading the love of salsa for 20 years. They have a real passion for teaching people to dance, helping give them confidence in movement, and excel to help them reach their fullest potential. Their teaching team help you have fun, while learning a great skill and helping get fit along the way. We look forward to seeing you all at the workshop.
Latin Fire will be teaching a 1 hour salsa workshop. It is a fun easy to learn dance and great way to express yourself in dance and movement. All skill levels are welcome.
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Julia McKerrow
Somatics
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Julia is a Christchurch based Contemporary Dance Artist and Movement tutor. She is a graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, and a recipient of the New Zealand TUP LANG Choreographic Scholarship. Julia has danced and choreographed for New Zealand's leading dance festivals including The Christchurch and Otago Arts Festivals; The Body; Wellington Fringe; and Tempo.
Julia has been fortunate to have worked with Christchurch Choreographer Fleur De Their over the last 20 years whilst working for Footnote Dance Company, Michael Parmenter, Body Cartography, Southern Lights Dance Company, Rebound Dance Company, the Unity Creative, Jolt integrative Dance, and Epic Entertainment. Julia investigates her Somatic movement and choreographic interests through the Somatic Movement Centre and Movement Art Practice. She invests in the local dance community through her teaching work with Hagley Dance Company, Anneliese Gilberd Academy, St Margaret's College and Cashmere High School In 2019 she presented her new work "She is called Virago" at the inaugural Ōtautahi Tiny Performance Festival for MAP, and is planning a return season for Little Andromeda in April. |
WORKSHOP
Julia has recently developed a Somatic Movement Class for dancers and is currently teaching classes through Movement Art Practice, Hagley Dance Company, Anneliese Gilberd Academy and workshops for St Margaret's College Performing Arts Department.
Julia offers material which will challenge and expand individual movement ranges, by facilitating an experiential learning practice for artists.
She is committed to investing in the growth of dance students and artists in their professional development as well as in continued movement practice.
Julia has recently developed a Somatic Movement Class for dancers and is currently teaching classes through Movement Art Practice, Hagley Dance Company, Anneliese Gilberd Academy and workshops for St Margaret's College Performing Arts Department.
Julia offers material which will challenge and expand individual movement ranges, by facilitating an experiential learning practice for artists.
She is committed to investing in the growth of dance students and artists in their professional development as well as in continued movement practice.
Jan Bolwell
Contemporary
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Jan is a performer, choreographer and director of Wellington's popular 45 strong dance company for mature women "Crows Feet Dance Collective.
She has created more than 25 works for Crow's Feet over 20 years. The Collective has performed at events all around the country. Their latest production "The Witch Project" was staged in 2019 at Te Papa, the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, and Ngā Purapura in Otaki. As a Fullbright Scholar Jan studied cross cultural dance in the United States and this led to 3 seminal bi-cultural dances theatre works: "Wāhine Toa", "Takitoru", and "Sing Whale! He Apakura Tohorā", that she co-created in the 90's with Keri Kaa, and Sunny Amey. "Takitoru" won a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award in 1995. After experiencing breast cancer in 1998, Jan began writing plays. Her solo play "Here's Hilda" was nominated for a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award in 2006. In March 2018 at the Dunedin Fringe Festival, Jan premiered "Once Upon A Dance", co-written with Mona Williams, a Guianese professional story teller and dancer. In 2019 Jan premiered her latest play "Welcome to the Death Cafe" at BATS Theatre in Wellington. |
WORKSHOP
Jan will teach a 2 hour workshop which is open to all participants regardless of their dance experience. She will model the session on how she works with her group Crow's Feet Dance Collective.
It will be divided into 4 sections
1) Floor and standing/travelling and warming up.
2) Learning a piece of Crow's Feet Repertoire
3) Improvisation leading to creation of short dance pieces
4) Sharing and discussion of the work created.
Jan will teach a 2 hour workshop which is open to all participants regardless of their dance experience. She will model the session on how she works with her group Crow's Feet Dance Collective.
It will be divided into 4 sections
1) Floor and standing/travelling and warming up.
2) Learning a piece of Crow's Feet Repertoire
3) Improvisation leading to creation of short dance pieces
4) Sharing and discussion of the work created.
Lisa Wilkinson
HIP HOP
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Kia ora, I have been teaching hip hop for 30 years now and still loving it - albeit needing to adapt to the changes in the body over time. I've seen hip hop move and develop into what it is today and I love the creativity coming out of the young hip hop champions in the world.
I started teaching dance in Christchurch at Dance Corporate, which was the best studio to ever exist in my opinion. Inclusive and diverse and where my love of dance was encouraged by some fantastic people - Barbara Franks, Ginny Ayson, Fleur De Their, Andrew Shepard. I moved to Dunedin when I was 24 and completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts and a Bachelor of Education, and then started my own School - RASA School of Dance, modeled on my love of Dance Corporate, and my dance whānau in Christchurch. At RASA I teach hip hop, contemporary, Bollywood and Jazz. I have over 600 students who keep me very busy and I feel lucky to have made a career in dance. At RASA my favorite class is the over 60's class - called "Rhythm of Life" as these students are so appreciative and aware of what dance can offer in terms of wellness of body mind and spirit. |
WORKSHOP
My class will be inclusive and fun with an old school vibe. We will do some hip hop progressions and a fun set - suitable to those new to hip hop, as well as anyone wanting to have a dance off with me. Basically it will be a hip hop dance party! See you there.
My class will be inclusive and fun with an old school vibe. We will do some hip hop progressions and a fun set - suitable to those new to hip hop, as well as anyone wanting to have a dance off with me. Basically it will be a hip hop dance party! See you there.
Sean James
Ballet
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Sean started ballet training at the age of 8, and spent several years as the only male ballet dancer on the West Coast, before graduating from the NZSD in 1988. He went on to dance with the RNZB and Southern Ballet, and toured with the musicals Chess and Cats. He taught and choreographed as well as building up a repertoire of technical skills in lighting, sound, video and photography.
A current member of Rebound Dance Company, Sean also teaches ballet and contemporary Dance at several Christchurch Dance Schools, and occasionally ends up on stage with his students in Ballet Character roles. In his technical career he has worked with Raewyn Hill, Michael Parmenter, Fleur De their, Julia Sadler, The World Buskers Festival, Jennie Gillies Colourful Company and many other local and touring productions. In 43 years of dancing he has never dropped a partner. |
WORKSHOP
This class is for those with ballet experience at an intermediate to professional level, with a short barre to get going, and plenty of centre work including turns and jumps. Challenge the brain and body through the strength, grace and artistry of classical ballet.
Developpé over 90 degrees not required - love of dance essential.
This class is for those with ballet experience at an intermediate to professional level, with a short barre to get going, and plenty of centre work including turns and jumps. Challenge the brain and body through the strength, grace and artistry of classical ballet.
Developpé over 90 degrees not required - love of dance essential.
