#nzsd

As the year heads into its final months, it’s all go at the New Zealand School of Dance; the students are preparing for their annual Graduation Season. By NATASHA THYNE.

Megan Wright rehearsing Sir Kenneth MacMillan's 'Solitaire', for New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Season 2013. Photographed by Stephen A'Court. 

  Showcasing their talent and years of hard work, dancers will be performing pieces from local and international choreographers, in both contemporary and classical styles.

Keeping Up with Contemporary

Third year contemporary major Katie Rudd, 20, has been selected to dance in three pieces, all of which, she says, are very different in style.

Belgian choreographer Elie Tass created one of the pieces Katie is involved, in especially for the Graduation Season.

“It’s quite different to anything I’ve ever been in before,” she says. “It’s been a really good challenge, both movement-wise and stamina-wise.”

Another new piece involving all the second and third year contemporary students was created by Melbourne-based choreographer Antony Hamilton, who spent three weeks with the dancers.

The piece is performed with no music, so dancers must count out the beats themselves.

Katie says when they first started to work with Antony, having to get used to the new style was a complete shock to the system: “You have to be more switched on in your brain than in your body. It’s a really good mental challenge.”

Third year student Katie Rudd with Riley Baldwin at the New Zealand School of Dance. Photographed by Phillip Merry.

  The range of pieces is a bonus for dancers, as they get to showcase all of the different aspects to their abilities.

Back to the Classics

The classical students will be performing Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Solitaire, dancing the original 1956 choreography.

Dancing the lead role is first year classical student Megan Wright.

At just 16, she is one of the youngest dancers at the school and says it is a privilege to be picked for such a big role: “It’s a little bit daunting, but so exciting.”

The school also selected Megan to be part of an exchange with Canada’s National Ballet School.

Megan will spend four weeks in January next year dancing and living with the students in Toronto, where she is excited to see the different styles of teaching.

“Depending on where in the world you were trained, dancers tend to pick up subtle differences in the way they move. Through the international faculty and students at Canada's National Ballet School, I will have the opportunity to see how other dancers move, and learn other styles of ballet, improving my versatility as a dancer.”

The New Zealand School of Dance’s Graduation Season runs from November 20 to 30at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre in Newtown, Wellington. For more information, head to: http://www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz/news_events/upcoming_performances/index.html#GRAD