Touch Compass to feature on TV1's Artsville

Media Release - December 2008

Touch Compass Dance Trust will feature in a TV1  Artsville documentary, screening on Sunday 28th December at 10.30pm.

The documentary will offer a unique insight into the day to day challenges faced by Touch Compass integrated dance company, as they plan, prepare and perform the 10th Anniversary tour in 2007.

The show toured from Auckland to Whangarei, Hastings and Wellington, presenting a total of 9 performances during October to December 2007.

Mystery donor offers lifeline to unique dance company

Media Release - September 2008

World-renowned integrated dance company Touch Compass desperately needs a permanent home – but can’t find a suitable building in central Auckland despite the financial backing of an anonymous donor with deep pockets.

Founded in 1997 by dancer and choreographer Catherine Chappell, Touch Compass is a unique New Zealand dance company in which dancers with and without disabilities work together to create thought provoking dance shows. The company’s patron is actor Lisa Chappell, Catherine’s sister and former star of TV show ‘McLeod’s Daughters’.

A year ago, the company’s 10th anniversary tour was featured on TVNZ’s Sunday programme, which attracted the attention of a well-heeled benefactor whose identity is unknown even to Catherine Chappell herself.

“We have no idea who they are but they’ve committed to a substantial donation for a permanent Touch Compass venue for the next 3 years, if we can find somewhere suitable. The problem is: we can’t find a building that meets our special requirements,” says Catherine. “This is the sort of rescue package that is unheard-of in our cash-strapped sector of the arts and we desperately need to take advantage of this offer before they lose interest.”

The company needs a building that is accessible for people with disabilities, with high ceilings, sturdy beams to suspend dancers from, natural light, adequate parking, and space enough for two rehearsal rooms and other facilities.  While the search continues, Touch Compass is rehearsing in three different hired or borrowed venues spread throughout Auckland – such as the Point Chevalier Bowling Clubrooms – but none is ideal and moving from place to place is disruptive and time consuming, particularly for the disabled performers.

“A permanent studio will make it easier for Touch Compass to attract corporate sponsorship, build up a larger body of work, perform more often, and help fund the company through aerial workshops and corporate work,” says Catherine.

Despite not having a permanent base, Touch Compass will present two spectacular new dance/theatre works from 1 to 4 October 2008 at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre. The new season’s works are Harmonious Oddity, a stunning new dance/theatre work by Pedro Ilgenfritz and Catherine Chappell, and Grotteschi, a powerful duet by Suzanne Cowan.

“Dreamlike and challenging, Harmonious Oddity features surreal scenes played out by dancers not only on their feet, but also on wheels and suspended in mid-air in a wacky and humorous work that will transport you into another realm,” says Catherine. “Grotteschi explores the myth of the classical body and grotesque body, how each contains the other, and how they ultimately transcend any categorisation.”

Joining the company this year are Brazilian actor, theatre director, playwright, lecturer, and physical theatre expert Pedro Ilgenfritz, and lighting designer Jenny Pullar whose work includes designs for 191 different productions in 12 countries.

10th Anniversary Tour 2007

Media Release

Touch Compass dances around North Island for 10th birthday celebration

Renowned New Zealand dance company Touch Compass celebrates its 10th anniversary in Auckland from October 17, 2007 with a four centre North Island tour. The company’s most memorable works have been selected for this retrospective showcase, including the outstanding and critically acclaimed work - Lusi’s Eden. Over the last ten years audiences have been drawn to the beauty and skill of this ground breaking company, unique for its integration of professional dancers and choreographers with and without a disability.

Highly regarded for their innovation and “flying”, which sees wheelchairs and dancers suspended and swinging above the stage, the company creates work to challenge public perception of “what dance is and who is a dancer”. The work that has resulted has earned Touch Compass the reputation as a pioneering and ingenious contemporary dance company.

A decade ago, artistic director and founder Catherine Chappell returned home from the United States to experiment with her newly learned contact improvisation skills. Touch Compass was created in the same year and in 1997 the first Touch Compass season proudly premiered at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre. 

Lusi’s Eden is a theatrical journey which sees the heroine Lusi Faiva trade her electric wheelchair for a harness, to fly her to freedom across the stage and high above the audience. This physical and metaphorical flight of fancy inspires and uplifts audiences, who identify with the liberation of spirit which is captured by this poignant and exuberant work.