About the Festival

In a year that has presented many challenges it is heartening to be able to offer a vast array of opportunities to put your dancing shoes on and experience the 15 days that are Body Festival 2009..

Earlier this year we received a grant from Creative New Zealand to help support the formation of a new ‘repertory’ contemporary dance company and the festival sees the world premiere and debut season of Southern Lights Dance Company, featuring six of our country’s leading dancers and choreography by New Zealanders Shona McCullagh and Fleur de Thier and, with the support of the Christchurch Arts Centre’s Artist in Residence programme, American choreographer Zöe Scofield.

Building on the huge success of last year’s launch we’re at it again with an attempt at the world’s longest line dance, so come join us in Victoria Square on the 25th September and help us kick things off with a ‘Slide’

As always the community have a go workshops programme is hugely important to us and for this year we’re back in the foyer of the Christchurch Art Gallery with fifteen workshops scheduled over the three weekends of the festival alongside a huge array of independent workshops being offered all over the city.

Our performance programme is also strong with works by companies including: Java Dance, Okareka Dance Company, Jolt, A Different Light, Hagley Dance Company, and many more besides.

We are also delighted to be partnering with Dance Sport Canterbury to present the inaugural ‘Body Dance Sport Championships’. Showcasing the competitive dance side of things best illustrated in ‘Dancing With The Stars’, so come check out how the professionals do it at the Town Hall on the 10th October.

Finally, I am once again especially grateful to my board and staff for their ongoing support and guidance in all of our activities but especially the faith they have in this festival and without their words of encouragement and the support of our key funder the Christchurch City Council, we wouldn’t be able to present such a jam packed festival to you this year.

Finally, I am once again especially grateful to my board and staff for their ongoing support and guidance in all of our activities but especially the faith they have in this festival and without their words of encouragement and the support of our key funder the Christchurch City Council, we wouldn’t be able to present such a jam packed festival to you this year.

So enjoy the programme and see you at the dance!