Dance 2019 Season 1

Choreographers Miriam Eskildsen & Chantal Diack (Auckland, NZ)

Chantal Diack has been dancing for fifteen years, beginning her ballet training at five years old and her contemporary training at the age of ten. She has trained in RAD Ballet and NZAMD contemporary, before commencing her training at Unitec. Miriam Eskildsen began her contemporary dance training at Unitec. Cold Coffee is a collaborative effort first developed as part of a research project assignment exploring different modes of performance and movement vocabularies.

Choreographer Joanna Cook

Joanna Cook is a dance artist that loves to travel. She spent 11 years overseas working with dance makers such as Rafael Bonachela (SDC), Jason Winters (JWCT), Erica Sobol, Shaun Parker, Danielle Ohn (KCDC), Yamit Kalef (Ohad Naharin, Jiří Kylián), Idan Sharabi, Eyal Dadon, Oded Graff, Chisato Ohno (Batsheva).

She returned to her homeland in December 2019 in order to undertake a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Studies at UoA. She is currently interested in researching the interweaving of text, vocalisation, soundscape, installation and choreographic forms to push her own and others fields of knowing and boundaries of embodiment.

Choreographers Jenny De Leon

Jenny De Leon, dancer-choreographer-teacher, also a registered Psychotherapist, practitioner of Bikram yoga, and occasional writer and academic. Mother of two in their young 20’s. Recently performed in America for her teacher Mr Bill Evans.

Choreographers Oli Mathiesen (Auckland, NZ), Bruce (Bohao) Feng (China), Sharvon Mortimer (Rotorua, NZ)

Oli, Bruce and Sharvon are currently in their second year of a BPSA at Unitec. The dynamic trio has great joy collaborating with each other, utilising their individual skills and styles to discover their own choreographic processes.

Choreographer Presley Ziogas (Auckland, NZ)

Presley graduated with a BPSA in Contemporary Dance from Unitec in 2018. Prior to her contemporary training, Presley represented New Zealand at the Hip Hop International World Championships with 2013, and continues to bring her hip hop expertise into her contemporary work. Presley is interested in creating intricate dream-like worlds within her choreographic practice and is interested in exploring texturally opposing and isolated movement qualities. Presley’s choreographic work has been exhibited in various platforms such as Short + Sweet Dance Festival NZ (2018). Presley is a guest tutor at the Auckland Performing Arts Centre in contemporary and ballet technique.

Choreographer Kit Reilly (Auckland, NZ)

Kit is a graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance’s Contemporary Programme. His highlights during his time at the school include performing in “Political Mother” by Hofesh Shechter and travelling to New York/ Shanghai with Metamorphosis International Dance Residency.

Since graduating, Kit has been involved in a variety of projects including music videos, Rambert Dance Company’s installation in London, and working with Malia Johnston in RUSHES.

From April 2019 at Wellesley Studios Kit began choreographing his first full length work ‘Utopia #9’ which he also composed the music for.

Recently Kit worked in collaboration with Dance Plant Collective for Tūrama Festival.

Kit Reilly

Choreographer Chancy Rattanong (Auckland, NZ)

Chancy Rattanong is a graduate of UNITEC’s Performing and Screen Arts degree majoring in Contemporary Dance. Since leaving UNITEC she had danced and worked collaboratively with choreographers but in recent years has spent more time on the other side of the stage. She is excited about creating something solo.

Choreographer Victoria Medina in collaboration with company (Auckland, NZ)

Victoria began her dance training in her home country, Venezuela. At 16, she moved to New Zealand and fell in love with Hip Hop and Urban Choreography. She is currently in her second year of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland. Her style is a fusion of everything she has been through. Victoria aims to bring to light latin/hispanic culture and traditions through her art.

Julia Aloalii

Zaviar Baker

Xyrene Cope

Gabrielle Gandionco

Manon Humphrey

Grace Leong

Kate Littlejohn

Victoria Medina

Cat Raynel

Sarah Walmsley