2 Dec 2018

The Business of Dance - Shona McCullagh

From Standing Room Only, 1:50 pm on 2 December 2018

“He’s had an indelible imprint on the cellular structure for generations of New Zealand dancers, so there’s huge grief but also huge gratitude." 

So says Shona McCullagh, artistic director and business manager of the New Zealand Dance Company, of Douglas Wright who was celebrated this week after his recent passing.  

Indeed speaking of the growth of a national company Shona talks of Wright's work not getting the international recognition it deserved as a major drive behind starting the company.

"I loved his work I loved working with him and I was so utterly inspired by what he was doing."

Shona in dual artistic and business roles is now determined to build a more sustainable platform for New Zealand choreographers and dancers. She is proud they continue to tour a programme they first premiered in 2014

“There are many people in creative roles who have entrepreneurial ideas and ability.”

As Douglas Wright could attest, sustaining a national contemporary dance company has in the past been difficult in New Zealand - and getting to tour internationally even harder. Yet In 2018 not only is the New Zealand Dance Company celebrating its sixth birthday but its about to embark on its second European tour of the year, heading to Belgium and Luxembourg. 

But its not been an easy journey to build a company providing full-time employment for New Zealand dancers. Founder Shona McCullagh as both artistic director and chief executive says that to be sustainable the international touring is vital. While touring New Zealand involves making a loss, a small profit can even be made touring elsewhere, particularly Europe. Returning to Europe this month the company will be once again in front of the eyes of international buyers, who Shona spends a lot of time these days meeting at markets. 2019 sees the company tour in North America as well as a seven-centre New Zealand tour in April and they are already booking Europe for 2020. 

Representing the Asia Pacific region they take three works to Europe this month under the theme of 'time':  Korean Kim Jae Duk's Sigan, performed by a quartet of dancers in a work that allows their technical skill to shine, a work by one of our finest dance artists, Ross McCormack 'Matter' and Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake's 'If Never Was Now'.

Time will see eight of NZDC's dancers take to the stage. Full-time dancers Carl Tolentino, Chrissy Kokiri, Katie Rudd, and Xin Ji who all travelled to Europe for the Lumina tour in April will lead the Company, joined by Lucy Lynch, Emily Adams, and recent New Zealand School of Dance graduates Chris Clegg, Sebastian Geilings and Christina Guieb making their debut performances with NZDC. Shona's is a commitment to achieving increased full-time employment for Aotearoa's finest dancers.