Aotearoa shows its love of dance

22 Friday 2016
A nationwide dance video, For the Love of Dance in Aotearoa, features music composed by Wellington musician and disability advocate Pati Umaga. The video, presented by DANZ, will be launched at noon on International Dance Day on 29 April.

International Dance Day is part of the first New Zealand Dance Week from 23–30 April. The video project was pitched to groups and individuals in New Zealand’s dance community. Its aim was to get lovers of dance together to come up with a piece of choreography and film it in a space significant to New Zealand or their town.

The footage, submitted to DANZ, was then edited and combined to create a video montage showing the joy, diversity and community of dance in Aotearoa.

Dance for people of all abilities

In 2015, Pati Umaga teamed up with Auckland’s PHAB Pasifika to make a music video celebrating dance for people of all abilities. The video featured the song Siva (the Samoan word for dance) and was screened on the opening night performance of the New Zealand Festival in Wellington.

Now, the instrumental version of Siva is the music that people from Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin have been dancing to.

“I was chuffed to be able to contribute to this national celebration of dance,” Pati says. “Dance is something that everyone can do.”

The groups featured in the video include Hip Op-eration Crew (Waiheke Island); StarJam (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch); Festival One (Hamilton); JDK (Wellington); Dance Mechanics Latin Groove (Auckland); St Hilda’s Collegiate (Dunedin); Natraj School of Dance (Upper Hutt); Jodie Bate, Emma Payton and Thommy Bate (Dunedin); Masterclass Dance Studios (New Plymouth); and RASA School of Dance (Dunedin).

‘We are stoked with the response we have had to this project, which has enabled DANZ to forge new connections with our stakeholders and the wider dance community,” says Linda Lim, Communications Manager, DANZ.

“There is so much amazing dance happening throughout New Zealand, and the power of digital technology has provided us with an opportunity to work with groups in the regions.”

Watch the video

The video will be available for viewing from noon 29 April on the DANZ website.

‘We want all New Zealanders to watch it, like it and share it with their friends and family, and in so doing to support dance and New Zealand Dance Week,” Linda says.

As the national support organisation for dance, DANZ provides services and leadership to realise our vision for vibrant and thriving dance in Aotearoa; to move inspire and transform lives, therefore contributing to the creative, spiritual, physical and cultural health of the nation.