WELLINGTON audiences will get the chance to see the works of a new generation of dancers and actors when students from both the New Zealand School of Dance and the New Zealand Drama School (Toi Whakaari) perform in the city this month.
For the first time the New Zealand School of Dance is presenting a night of solo performances by third year students on Wednesday July 13. Celia Jenkins of the school says NZSD Up Close will feature solo performances from classical and contemporary students. A second show on July 14  will be performed by over 40 students fresh from working with New Zealand choreographer Michael Parmenter and Pablo Aharonian from Ballet de Santiago.
“These are intimate studio performances and give a rare opportunity to get behind the scenes of the school,” Jenkins says.
She says all of the contemporary students have created their own devised works from various influences.
“This is part of the composition section of the NZSD curriculum which encourages them to explore how their own bodies move most naturally and to fine tune and develop their own unique style of choreography.”
Jenkins says the classical dances will range from 19 to 21st century  master works, with several chosen from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake as well as the rarely performed Grand Pas Callique, with music by Daniel Auber.
Meanwhile, Toi Whakaari third year acting students are presenting Go Solo from July 11, a show comprising of 16 new solo shows created and performed by the final year actors who will present their pieces in groups of four.
“For many of Toi Whakaari’s graduates this season has served as their first major stepping stone into the professional theatre,” Fionn Peat from Toi Whakaari says. The show provides Wellington audiences with the opportunity to view fresh, bold theatre from our next generation of New Zealand performers.”
NZSD Close Up, National Dance and Drama Centre, Third year solos, July 13; Group performance, July 14.
Toi Whakaari, GO Solo, National Dance and Drama Centre, July 11-23.