3 minute read
Dance careers in Australasia
ISTD International Representative, Jess Walker, explains why learning dance in a tiny nation like New Zealand allows for cultural sensitivity and creates a global awareness that is advantageous to dance careers.
It may seem that we are at a disadvantage due to our small size and distant location, seemingly not having as much access as some larger locations. But the reality is just the opposite. Due to our isolated location, we put more effort into making sure we have access to everything. This is especially true for our more advanced dance education at the secondary and university levels, which produces professionals who are so well prepared for any job in dance, in any culture, and wherever.
Traditional Māori Haka
Our post-secondary dance education is a cultural buffet, where students can learn about and analyse the connections between dance and more general political and cultural movements. They accomplish this by taking both practical dancing training and academic courses on various global cultural environments.
Traditional Chinese dance
Ballet, jazz, and modern dance serve as a base to provide a clear and solid technical foundation. In terms of cultural dance, we study New Zealand dance, covering our Maori heritage, traditional dances like the Haka and poi dancing, as well as the enormous influence of the Pacific Islands, like the Samoan sasa. We cover the tango, salsa, and the dabkeh, a classic Levantine Arab dance, traditional Chinese dances, bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance, and gumboot dancing from South Africa. Electives like circus arts are available to make sure that students receive a truly well-rounded education.
In conclusion, dance students in New Zealand experience a variety of cultural dances in their classes. They research the origins of dance forms and practical motions, as well as how these might be modernised to match contemporary culture while preserving the movement’s purity and history. Whatever dancing career route they decide to pursue, they are equipped to travel anywhere in the world as a professional with a wide range of influences. Coming from a tiny nation that is acutely conscious of the value of a dancer with global awareness and cultural sensitivity is a true advantage.
Traditional Indian dance
