New Trans-Tasman Dance Exchange Partnership Launches
Wellesley Studios, Auckland and Dancehouse, Melbourne are thrilled to announce 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.
Founder and Director of Wellesley Studios, Katrina Todd says: “We are thrilled to now be able to expand our residency programme that began in 2016 and has supported 50 artists to date. 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.”
Dancehouse CEO/ Artistic Director Josh Wright says: “Internationally, there are few formal opportunities to build connections and relationships with our dance peers. 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.”
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.
Kate Britton, Artistic Director Performance Space says: “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. 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.”
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. She says, “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. 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 both New Zealand and Australian dance artists close at 11.59pm Sunday 9 March 2025.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave by Oli Mathiesen NZ, W.S. Residency alumni, for Performance Space’s Liveworks Festival 2025, at Carriageworks. Image by Lucy Parakhina