Wellesley Studios, Auckland and Dancehouse, Melbourne have announced a Trans-Tasman partnership designed to foster the exchange and mobility of independent dance artists and their practice between Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia between 2025 and 2027.
The triennial partnership has been funded by Creative New Zealand, Wellesley Studios and Dancehouse. Annually, each organisation will host an international artist from the other country for a 2-week residency with stipends and support for travel and accommodation plus mentoring as required.
“We are thrilled to now be able to expand our residency programme that began in 2016 and has supported 50 artists to date,” said Founder and Director of Wellesley Studios, Katrina Todd.
“Thanks to CNZ we can now open-up to our first international exchange, creating new connections, experiences, inspiration and opportunities for NZ dance artists.”
“We are also delighted to welcome Australian artists each year, developing artist and audience networks and for the local dance community to benefit from different methodologies and practices in our spaces,” said Todd.
“Internationally, there are few formal opportunities to build connections and relationships with our dance peers,” said Dancehouse CEO/ Artistic Director Josh Wright.
“And despite our proximity and deep cultural and social ties with our nearest neighbours, there’s been a scarcity of initiatives and exchange with our New Zealand artists, communities and partners.”
“This brilliantly elegant relationship connects two small but mighty dance hubs: Wellesley Studios, and Dancehouse, to begin a simple multi-year exchange full of flexibility and opportunity.”
“Collectively we know we can host generously and with genuine interest and reciprocity for the love and benefit of our dance artists and communities,” said Wright.
In addition, Sydney’s Performance Space is also strengthening its interest in New Zealand artists by partnering with both Dancehouse and Wellesley Studios.
In 2024 Performance Space worked with two of Wellesley Studio’s Residencies alumni, Jessie McCall and Oli Mathiesen, presenting their works The Bloom (also presented at Dancehouse) and The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave (respectively) in their Liveworks Festival and connecting them with Australian audiences and their expansive national and international networks.
“For more than forty years we have found, nurtured and presented the most innovative and urgent art and performance from across the Asia Pacific, and this new programme will enable us to connect more deeply with Aotearoa’s rich and dynamic independent dance scene,” said Kate Britton, Artistic Director Performance Space.
“Programmes such as this are invaluable to our sector, connecting artists, organisations and audiences who value ground breaking and future focused performance and ensuring independent artists are able to thrive.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to continue to build relationships with this fantastic community of artists and performers, and anticipate brilliant results on both sides of the Tasman,” said Britton.
Wellesley Studios Residencies Creative Producer Shona McCullagh, who initiated the dance exchange project will oversee the new international and research residencies, building networks, capability and opportunities for dance artists.
“The power of residencies to influence practice and international opportunity has been repeatedly proven and I’m delighted with both the strength of our partners and the support from CNZ to deliver this programme,” said McCullagh.
“Increasing the flow of Trans-Tasman ideas and collaborations is hugely exciting and highly logical given our proximity. I can’t wait to see the benefits the residency artists and the wider community and audiences will receive.”
Expressions of Interest for the Trans-Tasman Dance Residency will open on Monday 10 February and close at 11.59pm – Sunday 9 March 2025. For more information and to submit an Expression of Interest, visit: www.dancehouse.com.au for details.
Image: Slip by Rebecca Jensen. Originally commissioned for the Keir Choreographic Award 2022. The full-length work was presented in 2024 at Darebin Speakeasy and toured to Nelson Arts Festival, and Tempo Festival Auckland – photo by Sarah Walker