Thursday
Departing Kirikiriroa at 7:30am, our first stop was Wellesley Studios. We worked with contemporary dance choreographer/dancer Tupua Tigafua. Tupua talked about his experiences travelling the world working with Black Grace, The New Zealand Dance Company and Footnote Dance Company. He choreographed a work on our aakonga. Tupua’s time and work is in high demand, but he graciously made time for us as he trained at dance school with Miss Arnold. Tupua gifted this work to bring back to Kirikiriroa with us.
We spent the afternoon/evening at The University of Auckland, where student ambassadors taught us some Contemporary and Hip Hop dance. Students met with Sarah Knox and Professor Ralph Buck to learn a little bit about the incredible dance studies programmes available. Having danced from 9:30am-5:30pm our aakonga were exhausted..needless to say they were in bed by 8pm!
Friday
We were back at Wellesley studios bright and early to finish learning Tupua’s choreography. Dancing in a professional setting was so inspiring, and we had the New Zealand Dance Company working away in the studio next door...some of them even popped in to watch our aakonga perform! Feeling massively inspired by Tupua and all he had to offer, we said our goodbyes and headed to The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC) for the afternoon.
At TAPAC, our students worked with Bollywood choreographer Tamzin Naicker. Our aakonga gave their all and trained solidly for 3 hours learning a fast, upbeat bollywood set. Tamzin loved working with our aakonga, she said it was possibly the best class she had taught in her 10 years teaching!
Friday night we wandered down from our accomodation to the CBD. Our dancers did some serious fundraising in order to go out for dinner. We enjoyed dinner together at The Mexican Cafe then another early night in preparation for another day of dance.
Saturday
We headed to Corbans Estate to where Atamira Dance Company resides. Company dancers Abby and Oli led a workshop, taught repertoire and choreographic skills. Some of our students had studied Atamira the year before for their external exam, such an honour to be working with them in their space.
We couldn’t have been prouder of our aakonga. They worked so hard and showed up each day, working together in a whaanau-like context. They have returned to SHGC with high quality, specialist and targeted experiences. Our senior dance students have a greater understanding of the viability of dance, not just as a form of creative expression, but as a career. We are so grateful to First Credit Union for their generous grant that enabled the trip to take place.
Colette Arnold, Dance Teacher