BELONGING: 50 years of DANCE!!!
In 2023 the Val Deakin Dance Theatre celebrated its 50th year –
50 years of bringing dance to the Taranaki and wider New Zealand community
50 years of dance education in public schools with performances and workshops
50 years of providing a performance outlet for many dance students from all dance schools in Taranaki (and beyond)
50 years of presenting a huge variety of works choregraphed by acclaimed international choreographer Val Deakin.
50 years of entertaining and enriching the community with Dance Theatre productions
50 years of providing dance for many occasions in the Taranaki area – and of belonging to Taranaki
CONNECTIONS
Connections was another exciting and diverse programme that was presented by the Val Deakin Dance Theatre at the Dance Centre in October, 2024.
The programme included:
Take a Seat, a new work commissioned from Christchurch-based choreographer Fleur de Thier and created especially for the Dance Theatre. It was a varied and amusing look at life on and off chairs, with an eclectic range of music.
New Plymouth’s French café band La Mer played live for performances of another new work, Café la Mer. This light-hearted work featured various characters in a Parisian café street scene, and different styles of dance performed by dancers aged 6 to 75. Oh la la!
Works by choreographer Val Deakin ONZM showcased her lyrical expressionism and her sense of humour. There were sections of the wonderful Reflections to music by Chopin and two movements of For Roberto– Val’s much-loved work inspired by a child’s poem about the war in Yugoslavia.
All works related to the themes of Connections between people, places and things.
The Dance Theatre is grateful to the Toi Foundation and the New Plymouth District Council Creative Communities Scheme for their support for this programme.
The programme was very well received by audiences of all ages and included two sold out performances.