rotunda to holland

The New Zealand Dance Company has been invited to perform Rotunda, at the prestigious Holland Dance Festival in February 2014, a festival that is famous for celebrating the world's most exciting dance companies. Described as "..another fierce and fabulous strike for professional and profound contemporary dance in New Zealand" (Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald, Aug 2013), Rotunda features the presentation of fervent NZ dance set to NZ music performed live by a Dutch band. How cool is that?

Created by Artistic Director and Arts Laureate Shona McCullagh in collaboration with the NZDC dancers, musician Chris O'Connor and composer and fellow Arts Laureate Don McGlashan as Musical Director, this unique work premiered at Q Theatre, Auckland in August 2013.  Featuring the powerful collision of a live brass band with the raw beauty of contemporary dance, Rotunda brings to life the world of the significant, but increasing lonely New Zealand icon, the band rotunda.  

Produced in preparation for the forthcoming Anzac Centenary, the work speaks to the heart of change and crisis, where courage and compassion are illuminated by a haunting, jaunty and deeply felt score. Rotunda features the rich contemporary brass music of New Zealand composers including Gareth Farr, John Ritchie and Don McGlashan, woven with traditional hymns to conjure the emotional landscape of a seminal time in New Zealand's history.

"The choreography is vigorous with moments of humour and tender intimacy."

".....this is a sure winner for the New Zealand Dance Company."

Francesca Horsley, The NZ Listener, September 2013.

In 2011 The New Zealand Dance Company was founded with the commitment to making new connections to dance, presenting high-calibre, engaging and relevant contemporary dance that inspires and grow audiences New Zealandly and New Zealandly. With comments like 'Absolute magic!' and 'Haunting, frightening, beautiful. More please!!!' from Rotunda audience members, we know we're on the right track.

It is an honour to be able to showcase our talented New Zealand artists and these important New Zealand stories at the Holland Dance Festival.

We are extremely grateful to Creative New Zealand for their contribution towards this cost of this tour but we still have a minimum of $15,000 to raise to get our eight dancers, conductor, production crew and set on that plane! 

Please join our family of valued supporters. With your donation, we can be part of this exciting event and achieve our vision of presenting powerful New Zealand work on the world's stage.

Thank you from all of the team at The New Zealand Dance Company!