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Seasoned Symposium
Seasoned Scholarships
Tutors & Class Info
Please click 'Read More' for class information.
Mary Jane O'Reilly
Masterclass Tutor, Ballet & Burlesque
Mary Jane O'Reilly has had a professional career spanning over 40 years both in New Zealand and internationally. She has received numerous grants and awards including the $30,000 Allen Highet Award (1984) for outstanding achievement by a mid-career artist and was awarded a Queens Service Medal for her services to dance in 1990. She was a co-founder, dancer, teacher and choreographer with the Limbs Dance Company (1977 – 86) and held the position of Artistic Director from 1979 to 1986. Her choreography of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (1990) involved a cast of 6000 amateur performers and was viewed by over 500 million TV audiences worldwide. It was also in 1990 that she choreographed the 3 act 'Jean Batten' ballet about our most famous aviatrix for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. From 1996 to 2001 she directed the Auckland Dance Company, culminating in an outdoor event in Gisborne for the Millennium Dawn event with Kiri Te Kanawa January 1st 2000 and a Limbs Retrospective show in 2001. From 2001 – 2004 she was a founder and lecturer for the Dance Programme at the University of Auckland. As Artistic Director of Tempo, New Zealand's Festival of Dance, she was instrumental in building Tempo Festival into a substantial recognised event - creating and overseeing five dance festivals from 2007 - 11 Currently she teaches ballet to adults, is the ambassador for the NZ Royal Academy of Dance’s Silver Swans for the older learner and was commissioned in 2021 to create a contemporary ballet version of Giselle Act 2 – Ballet Noir for the Auckland Elemental Festival. MaryJane and Phil have recently re-created their burlesque/cabaret show In Flagrante as Mouthfeel with whisky tasting and an MC - to be performed at the Auckland Cabaret Season at the Civic Wintergarden 21,22,24 September 2022. CLASS INFO: - Ballet Basics - a class for people new to ballet or revisiting after a long time away. Focussing on dancing and musicality - Open Ballet - a class for people familiar with ballet to a certain extent. A spirited but easy, very dancey / musical class, reminding us of the lovely aspects of this form - Cabaret/burlesque - drawing from the saucy, provocative choreographic vocabulary of MJ's In Flagrante, this is a class offering a soft jazz dance style class as a basis, with her ironic approach and wry, edgy humour at the forefront.
Fleur de Thier
Site Specific Tutor
Fleur has been working professionally in the dance industry for the last 29 years. She trained for three years full-time at Auckland Performing Arts School (now Unitec) graduating in 1991. Fleur worked as a freelance dancer in Auckland before returning to base herself in Christchurch in 1993. Fleur is an established New Zealand choreographer and has had works featured nationally in Arts Festivals throughout the last decade. Fleur is known for her diversity and connections with many different companies including Jolt Dance Theatre, Rebound, Southern Lights Dance Company, Unitec, Footnote and Hagley Dance Company. Fleur has most recently been exploring collaborations with visual artists presenting works with sculptor Robyn Webster and Puppet Maker Simon van den Sluijs. CLASS INFO: Fleur will lead a choreophic session that will result in a piece being created and performed on the final night. The focus will be on site specific exploration so dancers will be working outside in various locations. Dancers participating need to feel comfortable about making a piece quickly to perform, and will need to be available both working days of Seasoned. Those just wanting to observe the process are more than welcome.
Jan Bolwell
Dance Exercise Tutor
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 Crows 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, Palmerston North and Nga Purapura in Otaki. As a Fulbright scholar Jan studied cross-cultural dance in the States, and this led to three seminal bicultural dance theatre works, Wahine Toa, Takitoru and Sing Whale! He Apakura Tohora that she co-created in the 1990s 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 storyteller and dancer. In August 2019 Jan presented her popular solo play about her grandfather in WW1, Bill Massey’s Tourists as part of Tahi, the inaugural Festival of Solo Performance at BATS. In November 2019 Jan premiered her latest play, Welcome to the Death Cafe at BATS theatre, Wellington. CLASS INFO: Jan will lead a dance exercise class she created in partnership with a physiotherapist. The session includes warm-up/down pilates-based floor exercises and some simple dances which emphasize balance, strength flexibility and spatial awareness. Dancers need to be able to work on the floor. Gym shoes are worn and yoga mats will be provided.
Mana Fleming
Stretch and Release Tutor
Mana has enjoyed learning Tai Qi, Pilates and Yoga to the point of being able to teach. Her background is in youth work, community development and more recently Chinese medicine. She has worked teaching at Pioneer Stadium and Taiora QE2 for many years. CLASS INFO: Her class is focused on functional stretching using points of tension to open and access the core muscles (in this instance core means the muscles closest to the bones and joints). Moving through to using the breath to create the stretch.
Ekaitz Espino
Contemporary Dance Tutor
Ekaitz began his dance education at the Conservatory of Vitoria in his hometown in Spain. He then completed his training at the London Studio Centre in England, receiving a Diploma in Dance Performance. Ekaitz has had a long and successful career in dance including engagements with Gavina Ballet (Barcelona, Spain), the European Ballet (London, England), Santamaria Compania de Danza (Madrid, Spain), Halberstadt City Theatre (Germany) and Ballet Pforzheim (Germany). He has also produced several successful choreographies for Ballet Pforzheim. Since moving to Aotearoa in 2009, Ekaitz has been teaching dance in Ōtautahi. CLASS INFO: The class will consist on a few short combinations that will explore the use of momentum and different movement dynamics as well as the use of different body parts as instigators of movement. Intermediate/advanced level.
Annie Ruth
Physical Theatre & Viewpoints
Annie is a director, actor and teacher. She was Director of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, 1997-2011. In 2011 she was honoured for her work in drama with Membership of the Order of New Zealand (MNZM). Annie is a dancer and actor with Crows Feet Community Dance Company. In 2017 she directed Taking the High Ground by Jan Bolwell and in 2019 appeared in Welcome to the Death Cafe at BATS. In COVID disrupted 2020, she and Jan created a screen version called The Euthanasia Debate under the auspices of Bats Theatre. She also appeared in Circa’s The Older the Better with ‘The Many Ages of Annie Ruth’ 2020 and in 2022 as an actor in The Burrowers with Knot Theatre at Bats. Current work: Dancer in Requiem with Jan Bolwell’s Crows Feet. Dancer in Show Ponies, Verb Festival, Wgtn. Director of Jan Bolwell’s solo work Silent Spring Revisited. Actor, writer and producer of The Book Addict, New Athenaeum, Dunedin Fringe 2022, Bats 2022 with further venues planned for 2023. CLASS INFO: Brief Description of Viewpoints for Seasoned Dance The workshop will introduce Viewpoints as an approach to working choreographically in creating work. Annie Ruth studied Viewpoints in America with their creator, Anne Bogart, (American director and playwright) and they have become a major part of her directorial approach. Bogart drew on the work of dance choreographer, Mary Overlie, using Viewpoints as a way of both training performers and creating movement and space on stage. They are points of awareness that a creator has while working. They are a way of paying attention to what happens in the world and using that understanding to enable performance.
Kerry-Ann Stanton
Creative Movement
Kerry-Ann Stanton, a dance ‘aficionado’ of long standing, dancing for personal re-creation since birth and keen audience forever. Committed to creating safe, joyful and intentional space for movement exploration. A Registered Open Floor Dance Teacher, since 2012 Kerry-Ann has led seniors creative contemporary dance classes; Dancing Doyennes, Sit Walk Dance and InSpirited Aging. Post-Graduate of the Creative & Performing Arts - Dance Studies, Auckland University and a practising Funeral Celebrant and Educator. DANCING DOYENNES - A Creative Contemporary Dance Class No previous dance experience necessary. Session will include a light warm up, creative activities and relaxed movement sequences before we ‘dance like no-one is watching’, warm down together and sit in relaxation. Dance your way into physical well-being and confidence in older age – fun, social and safe class!
Andrew Shepherd
Drag Caberet
Lacey Susan was born out of Rebound Dance Company’s 2012 show Table for 12. Based on a pair of white platform boots and built from the ground up, Lacey has evolved into a larger than life camp goddess – her words! - who regularly hosts drag events at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū and is always somewhat humbled to be invited to perform at Christchurch Pride events. Lacey is an alternate persona of Christchurch contemporary dancer Andrew Shepherd. Despite - or perhaps because of - a late start in dance (his first formal dance class was at the age of 21) throughout the years Andrew has eagerly embraced the opportunity to work on multiple projects with local contemporary dancers Fleur de Thier and the late Sheryl Robinson, and even worked at Southern Ballet for a period of 3 years. A founding member of Rebound Dance Company, Andrew stepped back in 2022 to pursue individual projects, but was honoured to perform alongside the company in two of Fleur’s projects during that year. Over 30 years into his ‘career’ as a passionate amateur, Andrew continues to teach contemporary dance to adults as part or Hagley College’s After 3 programme. DRAG OUT YOUR TRUTH - CLASS INFO: How can a fictional character help you find your inner truth? Why does imposing limitations allow such freedom? Facilitated by Lacey Susan, Drag Out Your Truth will help you develop movement to celebrate your inner Diva, and explore the stories you never knew you needed to tell. Gentle contemporary improve exercises demonstrate how one Christchurch drag performer creates choreographic content designed to illustrate her internal narrative, and help her heal. Wear comfortable dance clothing, but feel free to bring along any item of clothing that will help to inspire your unique drag deity, wherever they may sit on the gender fabulous spectrum: king, queen, or fluid no-binary hero.
Emily Napolitano
Flamenco
A Lion in the western lunar calendar and a Tiger in the eastern, Emily lives for the spotlight! A teacher, dancer and glass artist, she has performed her entire life - exploring a variety of dance genres including rhythmic gymnastics, flamenco, contemporary, ballet, burlesque, West African, Latin, and Eastern European folk. Emily has travelled to Spain, West Africa, India, and Indonesia to deepen her dance studies.She currently dances in Christchurch with Flamenco del Sur and Rebound Dance Company. Emily loves the physical and mental challenges posed by dance, by preparing for performances, and by the performances themselves. Dance is a life journey, with each new choreography bringing a fresh chance to grow into the best version of yourself. Emily found her New Zealand dance whanau when she joined Rebound in 2015, and thoroughly loves performing in the company as well as getting to try her hand at choreographing on the company. CLASS INFO: Flamenco is one of the rare dance forms where you just get better as you get older! Come along and try this open flamenco class, where we will explore arm and hand movements as well as footwork and marking steps in a 4 count rhythm (if we're feeling confident we can try a 12 count rhythm!). Steps can be modified for beginners or more experienced flamenco dancers. Character shoes or dance sneakers are preferred over bare feet.
Vaea Coe
Kia Tā te Manawa – Rest the heart calm the mind
Vaea is of Ngāi Tahu, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Samoan and Tongan descent. Vaea has delivered dance/hula fitness and Oruorua Whakaoriori classes to Refugee older women, kaumatua at local Marae, and Pacific Island Church communities. Her background includes community development, mental health promotion, and Rongoā Māori (traditional healing practices). KIA TĀ TE MANAWA – REST THE HEART, CALM THE MIND - CLASS INFO: Vaea will take you through the steps of Oruorua Whakaoriori (movement in motion) a Māori adaption of Tai Chi acknowledging the maramataka the moon phase of OIKE. A time to rest and reflect. This moon phase is linked to the goddess Tangotango a beam of light that brightens the darkness in the skies. The focus of this class is on hautapu (our sacred breath), aligning te taha tinana (body), taha hinengaro (emotions) taha whānau (relationships) taha wairua (spiritual self), and our connection to te taioa our natural environment.
Juanita Hepi
Neke atu, Nike mai/Moving outward, moving toward
Juanita Hepi (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Wai, Moriori, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi) is a multidisciplinary storyteller exploring the intersections of race, class and gender through indigenous storytelling and cross-cultural collaborations. She holds a Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership, a Graduate Diploma of teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Arts from Toi Whakaari, the NZ Drama School. Juanita has performed on stages across Aotearoa including; The Court Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, Bats, The Auckland Town Hall and Shakespeare’s Globe in London. She produces, directs, performs in and supports a range of creative projects from large scale productions like Tūmahana with Cirko Kali and the CSO to the intimate solo Ariā. Not content to sit still, Juanita’s passion for Indigenous storytelling has led her to communities across Canada, America, and Hawaii where movement and sound are embedded in our epistemologies and because Ōtautahi is the place her ancestors have walked, battled and made love for centuries, she is a staunch advocate and enabler of arts and artists in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Juanita is māmā to three, sister of 8, and cuzzy to 100s. NEKE ATU, NEKE MAI/MOVING OUTWARD, MOVING TOWARD - CLASS INFO: Kapahaka - the movement of a people, where stories and nuance meet to express what it is to be human. Join Juanita Hepi for this gentle and joyful introduction to kapahaka. No matter what your experience is, you'll have fun singing and learning waiata with actions, we'll talk about some of the stories and history of kapahaka and it's relevance to us here in Te Waipounamu. We'll try our hand at poi and look at how kapahaka enhances our ability to reclaim our body sovereignty so get your voices and bodies ready, the waiata are waiting!
2023 Committee
Tracy Scott
Event Administrator
Tracy was the Event Administrator for the inaugural Pilot Seasoned Symposium in 2021 and is super proud to be here again for 2023. She has been involved since the age of 4 in dance. Trained in Ballet for 15 years was a member for 3 years of the Southern Ballet Company, Choreographer and Dancer for Linwood High School Dance Company (ExceL) and was a founding member and current dancer and choreographer for Rebound Dance Company. She has worked for many years in private practice as a Conflict Consultant and has organized many events over the years, as the Youth event coordinator for Wellingtons Summer City programme, as the Christchurch YMCA and Wellington BGI Gym Manager and Hui organizer for the Peace Foundation for the past 16 years. Combining her passion for dance and her skills as an organizer, Tracy is excited to be part of an even better and bigger Seasoned 2023.
Fleur de Thier
Artistic Advisor
Fleur was the artistic advisor for our 2021 Sympoisum and we are so honored to have her vision again for 2023. Fleur has been working professionally in the dance industry for the last 29 years. She trained for three years full time at Auckland Performing Arts School (now Unitec) graduating in 1991. Fleur worked as a freelance dancer in Auckland before returning to base herself in Christchurch in 1993. Fleur is an established New Zealand choreographer and has had works featured nationally in Arts Festivals throughout the last decade. Fleur is known for her diversity and connections with many different companies Including Jolt Dance Theatre, Rebound, Southern Lights Dance Company ,Unitec ,Footnote and Hagley Dance Company. Fleur has most recently been exploring collaborations with visual artists presenting works with sculptor Robyn Webster and Puppet Maker Simon van den Sluijs.
Serena Gallagher
Finances & Bookkeeping
Serena coordinated the finances and bookkeeping for our 2021 Pilot Symposium. We are grateful for her return to the team for 2023. Serena graduated from the Feldenkrais Professional Teacher Training in Auckland (2002) after her interest was sparked in the method when studying her BA in Dance at WAAPA, Perth. She has tutored students from the Unitec Dance programme as part of their Somatics training, before her move to Christchurch 12 years ago. She now runs her own massage clinic having completed a Diploma in Therapeutic Massage (1996). Serena also currently teaches a variety of massage courses for Holistic Health Training Ltd. She has been a member of Rebound Dance Company since 2012 and loves performing many dance genres. Using the Feldenkrais method has been an absolute life saver in finding ease and comfort in movement in a physically demanding choice of lifestyle!
Carolyn Sylvester
Marketing
Carolyn was the marketing coordinator for the 2021 and is responsible for the wonderful reels and short clips you see lots of, we are so lucky to have her back. Carolyn is a TV director and videographer based in Auckland. She’s been dancing her whole life from ballet in the early years in Sumner, to the Linwood High School Dance company, and a fair few Musical shows choreographed. Currently dancing with Megan Adams at TAPAC, as well as the odd class here and there when ever the wind and life allows.”
Jacqui Griffith
Support
Jacqui skillfully and with passion, took care of you all in 2021 as our accommodation and transport coordinator. She will be back to help in more ways than one in 2023. Jacqui started dance classes at age 6 with Gladys Bushell in Christchurch and later joined Lorraine Peters School of Dance where she danced until she was 16. In that time, she participated in many competitions and Royal Ballet examinations with some exciting successes and certainly had a lot of wonderful fun! The highlight of her dance experiences came when she danced with the NZ Ballet in their production of Prince Igor - an exciting initiation into performance, backstage, makeup, costuming and the like. Many of her current friendships were forged in those early days which says a lot about mixing with like-minded folk. She is delighted to have been part of REBOUND for that very reason – celebrating our enjoyment of life through dance. In her late teens, she ventured into the Jazz scene when she took up cabaret dancing with George Williams and was part of the Shoreline nightclub dance troupe for four years while she was studying at Canterbury University – this provided a much appreciated source of pocket money as well as some enlightening insights into life on the cabaret scene! After that, she enjoyed performing in the Christchurch Operatic Society musicals in the 70s – her favourites being Desert Song and My Fair Lady. Marriage and children then occupied a great chunk of years before joining REBOUND in 2011. I LOVE it!!
Sara Ninness Bartle
Support
You will have seen Sara’s smiley face helping out with our 2021 event and we are so lucky to have her smiles back for 2023. An intuitive dancer since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, Sara entered formative training as an adult in her 20s; first with Hagley Dance Company in 2013, followed by the Bacher of Dance Studies at UoA, graduating in 2016. With an interest in creative movement and synergistic practices, she will soon be immersed in studying integrative arts therapy alongside nutrition, while developing herself in her current role as a chiropractic assistant. If she's not dancing, you'll find her with her feet in the ocean or in a patch of sunshine with a book, nurturing her plant babies or spending time with her nearest and dearest. "I'm super excited to be part of the team again for Seasoned 2023 and to meet and move with you all!"
Gabrielle Stewart
Maori Advisor
A new role for the 2023 event, we are honored to have Gabby on the team.