Worth $65,000, it is the largest choreographic award or fellowship available in New Zealand and provides the resources and time for established choreographers to commit to a period of investigation, experimentation and research.

Auckland-based, Catherine Chappell's professional dance career spans 25 years and a variety of roles, including dancer, teacher, choreographer, mentor and producer. Following on from a strong background in contact improvisation, Catherine established Touch Compass in 1997 New Zealand's first integrated Dance Company for mixed-ability performers. From the first performance, Touch Compass has developed 'aerial work', which sees wheelchairs and dancers suspended and swinging above the stage. This work has earned Touch Compass the reputation of being a pioneering and ingenious contemporary dance company.

Alan Sorrell, Chair of the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, says Catherine Chappell's selection reflects the importance of accomplished artists having the opportunity to experiment within their chosen medium.

"We are pleased to award Catherine Chappell the 2011 Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellowship as she has contributed such innovation to contemporary dance in New Zealand" Mr Sorrell says. "This fellowship is designed to recognise excellence and experience while offering the recipient the creative freedom to explore new work over a one-year period."

Catherine plans to use the Fellowship for a period of concentrated professional development, researching and developing a new aerial dance form combining bungee and contact improvisation. She will also work with other international companies practicing in this area.

"This fellowship offers an invaluable chance to rejuvenate my ideas, explore new knowledge and refresh my skills in this area", says Catherine.

"I feel excited and highly motivated by the opportunities ahead and believe that I can bring to New Zealand's dance industry, and Touch Compass, a more enriched and invigorated performance product."

Previous recipients of this Fellowship are: Shona McCullagh (2004), Douglas Wright (2005), Michael Parmenter (2006), Lemi Ponifasio (2008) and Daniel Belton (2009).

• - Community Dance classes Term 2 run 7th May - 2nd July 2011 - no class on 4th June in Auckland


• - Touch Compass accepted into Creative NZs Totara Leadership Programme


• - Triple Bill tour, Hastings 4 June, Wellington 9, 10, 11 June


• - Professional Development workshops 2011
  • - Hamilton Improvisation Project with choreographer/tutor Kristian Larsen at Waikato University 27, 28, 29 July (Company and Waikato Uni students)
  
  
  • - International intensive with tutor/choreographer Stephanie Skura (US), 21 - 25 November in Auckland (open to guest dependent on size of studio)
  
  
  • - Marc Brew choreographic LAB project Auckland 6 - 17 December (Company dancers only)
  
  
  • - Tutor Training weekend workshop 10, 11 December in Auckland (bookings open later in the year, to receive information email: info@touchcompass.org.nz)
  
  


• - Another Encompass Youth Project is planned for July school holidays in Auckland with performances in October following the success of the 2010 youth work Embedded which won a Tempo Festival award.

TRIPLE bill Season

The trilogy of works for Triple Bill premiered at the Auckland Town Hall on 18–21 August. It was a sell-out season and highly praised by audiences and reviewers alike. Here’s what Jack Gray from Theatre Review had to say, "...from the company with strong choreographic work that could sit anywhere in the world from London to New York”. If you missed it this time hopefully there’s an opportunity to see it in 2011 as funding applications have been made to tour the show to four Auckland centres, Northland, Hastings and Wellington.

 
creative nz, sector investment FUNDING

Great news, Touch Compass has received funding for 2010/11 from Creative NZ’s sector fund towards retaining the  General Manager role, professional development, along with a pilot touring project. Previous CNZ sector funding for professional development has really paid-off as dancers’ skills and competence have improved which is evident in the recent high calibre Triple Bill.

TUTOR TRAINING, Auckland, open for enrolments, 20 & 21  Nov, 2010

Tutors Sue Cheesman, Suzanne Cowan and Susie Tate will lead this next tutor training weekend workshop at TAPAC in Auckland. There are limited spaces so early expressions of interest are essential. You will be required to complete a questionnaire to ensure the workshop matches your needs. Email catherine@touchcompass.org.nz for more information.

TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL MENTORING

For the past two terms Susie Tate has been working closely with Takapuna Grammar dance teacher Juliet Cryns guiding and advising on integrated dance as well as supporting her class work. An outcome was that a large group of disabled and non-disabled students created a piece that was performed at the annual school dance show which was well received by students, staff and families. Over term 3 the disabled students continued their twice weekly classes working towards the NCEA Unit Standard: Dance Performance - Experience Dance.  The work with the students has been enlightening for all involved with students, teachers and support staff learning and embracing the impact that integrated dance can have on people’s lives.

ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY CLASSES Auckland, 30 Oct– 11 Dec, 2010

Coming up school term 4 sees more Touch Compass Saturday community classes. Last terms classes had a diverse range of participants from teenage to mature adult and made for a great learning environment where everyone contributed. Working with contemporary and contact improvisation techniques participants will explore their body moving in space, solo and with others. The sessions build body awareness, self esteem and are loads of fun.

Where:           Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland

When:             23^rd October – 11^th December 2010

Time:              1pm - 3pm Saturdays

Enquiries:       catherine@touchcompass.org.nz or M 021 989 447 P (09) 550 6464

Cost:               $150 (8 weeks)

The trust is grateful for partial funding by Auckland City Council’s Community Group Assistance Fund.

WILSON SCHOOL CLASSES TERM 4

In school term 4 Susie Tate and Alisha McLennan will carry out a series of workshops for students at Wilson School, Takapuna.  Working one-to-one students will experience and develop their sense and enjoyment of dance and movement, building awareness and confidence. This project is partially funded by the North Shore Mayoral Fund.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/pages/Touch-Compass-Dance-Trust/111952362177312?ref=ts

Body...

Venue:           The Concert Chamber, The Edge, Auckland
Premiere:      8 - 21 August, 2010
Tickets:         www.the-edge.co.nz/Event-Pages/S/STAMP-2010/Touch-Compass.aspx 
Choreographers: Carol Brown, Jeremy Nelson and Suzanne Cowan

18, 19, 20, 21 Aug 7pm
19 Aug 1pm (Schools matinee)
20 Aug 2pm (Public matinee)

To receive information about the schools performance please contact: catherine@touchcompass.org.nz or ph. (09) 550 6464

   The Company have been working  intensely with improvisation specialist Kristian Larsen.
   They will be offering a free showing on Friday 28 May at 11.30am & 2.10pm (approx.
    20 mins plus discussion per showing). at the Wilson Centre. Limited viewing spots so    
    please rsvp rosekirkup@gmail.com by Thurs afternoon. 
    Directions to Wilson Centre - Take the northern motorway over the harbour bridge, take Takapuna -
    Esmond Road exit. Turn R into Esmond Rd, Go to end of Esmond Rd, (you can be in either L
    or R lane) Turn R into Lake Rd, Go through next set of lights, around a big bend (still on Lake Rd)
    Turn L into St Leonards Rd (Takapuna Grammar School next door). Entrance to Wilson Centre is a few 
    metres up on your L. Entrance to our offices are down alley way opposite the new  villa on L.

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    Radio interview online -Tutor Training

    Link to a recent item on National Radio about our teacher training workshop in Wellington:

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/oneinfive

Company dancer/choreographer Suzanne Cowan is currently working in Dunedin as part of the Caroline Plummer Fellowship she was awarded. Her aim is to create a site specific performance from the perspective of people with visual impairment. Follow her progress http://sightdance.blogspot.com

Company Dancer Alisha McLennan is currently being mentored in all aspects of the profession, follow her progress on http:lishtcdance.wordpress.com

Touch Compass Dance Trust, which aims to develop aspiring dancers who have disabilities, for integrated performance events, is today celebrating its successful bid for funding through Creative New Zealand.

The funding, which comes out of Creative New Zealand’s new Sector Investments round, will ensure the company can expand and deliver more integrated dance programmes and ensure more professional development for their dancers.

Artistic director Catherine Chappell said the injection of funds is timely given the company’s aims to build capacity and broaden its horizons.

This will allow us to really kick start numerous projects and ensure they do come to fruition.  Primarily it will enable us to build and strengthen the company’s infrastructure. For the first time we will have a dedicated team of people absolutely focussed on developing, driving and growing our programmes and performances.

“The newly created role of general manager means as artistic director I can get on with developing our artistic direction and creative edge that the company is renowned for,” said Ms Chappell.

 With a background in tourism and corporate communications and most recently private secretary tourism in the Prime Minister’s Office Karen Fraser Payne takes up the role of general manager.  Ms Fraser Payne said the funding recognises integrated dance as an art form and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the development of inclusive dance in New Zealand.

 Recent arrival to New Zealand Susie Tate, will lead Encompass, the dance education component of the company.   Trained as a dancer, Susie was the director of the Foundation Course in dance for disabled students at the UK’s Candoco dance company.

 This is a fantastic opportunity to build sustainable programmes and dancer capability. In the short time I have been with company, there have been endless enquires for more workshops, more professional development, more long term programmes – the enthusiasm and interest is overwhelming. In particular there are no regular dance training opportunities for aspiring dancers who have a disability. It means that we can actually create an even playing field for them by offering an extended programme and the chance to train with national and international choreographers.

 North Shore parent Yvette Carol has two boys in their second term of Touch Compass’s  children’s dance workshop said, ”They enjoyed the classes from the start however when they performed at the end of the term and got to see the older students perform a whole world of potential opened up. Samuel has Down Syndrome, he's six years old and can't form a sentence coherently yet so I can only put my words in his mouth.

 I felt, in watching him watch the older performers, that he perhaps saw potential for himself in the future. He got an image of being capable, bright, entertaining, and an artistic performer, able to put across a vivid message of the joy of life without needing words, in a way that everyone there could understand and embrace along with him. It was really exciting for our whole family actually. This second term I notice both my boys use dance a lot more at home as well. They dance to the bath and outside in the garden. It's been very positive”.

For more information contact:

Catherine Chappell

Artistic Director

Touch Compass Dance Trust