Dance 2019 Season 2

Choreographer Sofia McIntyre and Rosa Strati (Auckland, NZ)

Sofia and Rosa are old friends who have danced together, lived together and worked together for over 10 years and still talk.

Sofia McIntyre

Rosa Strati

Choreographers Syrai-Tiare Taumihau in collaboration with company (Auckland, NZ)

A recent graduate of the University of Auckland’s Dance Studies programme, Syrai is currently studying her postgraduate Bachelor of Dance (Honours). She is a fruit salad of culture, being of Tahitian, Cook Island, Tongan and European descent, taking her whole self with her when she choreographs. Syrai has an interest in themes that are sometimes unconventional and loves to present different types of movement in her dance pieces. She has collaborated with many people throughout her university degree including collaboration for dance pieces that have been in Short and Sweet Dance festival over the past 2 years. Syrai continues this collaboration with her dancers for this piece. All dancers are either graduates of the Dance Studies programme or currently completing the degree.

Choreographers Nicole Wilkie (Auckland, NZ)

Nicole is a freelance dancer and choreographer based in Auckland. Originally from Dunedin, she performed as part of several dance collectives there, including Lizzie Hewitt Dance Company and GASP! Dance, before relocating to Auckland in 2016. Nicole graduated from Unitec’s dance program in 2018. Since graduating she has toured to Asia with Manu collective, and has also presented her work ‘Clash’ as part of Auckland Fringe Festival.

Hana Kirk

Pamela McHardy

Nicole Wilkie

Choreographer Sarah-Louise Collins (Auckland, NZ)

Sarah-Louise graduated from Unitec Dance in 2015. She has worked with many New Zealand artists such as, val smith, Malia Johnston, Claire O’Neil, Caitlin Davey and Tallulah Holly-Massey. She co-created and performed in Catacular which had two sold out seasons. Her production company, Made With Magic Productions, has produced a number of critically acclaimed works such as Fabricate, Extra Ordinary Folk, Mammoth and Bad Mood.

Choreographer Heather Maday (Auckland, NZ) 

Independent Dance Company Focus Dance Company 

Heather is the founder of the fledgling Focus Dance Company aimed at making dance available to everyone. She focuses on issues that are topical to society and the stories of those around her. Heather graduated with a Bachelor of Dance degree and has spent time expanding her knowledge at the Broadway Dance Centre. She is currently teaching contemporary dance at Victory Performance Centre.

Mana Allen

Summer Aykroyd

Tayla Coulbeck

Rebekah Harris

Pavlo Kokhanenko

Heather Maday

Choreographer Lydia Rasmussen and company (Auckland, NZ) 

OTB Dance Collective

OTB Dance is a collective of dancers, from a variety of backgrounds, led by choreographic director Lydia Rasmussen. The collective has contributed works to a variety of festivals and events, including this year’s Auckland Fringe festival, and recent music video by New Zealand band ‘The Backchat’. Works by the collective are collaborative choreographies where all dancers contribute movement to the pieces. With a changing cast, this means there is no defined aesthetic that the dances have in common. Lydia is a University of Auckland, Dance Studies graduate who wants to continue to move as long as her body will allow.