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Dance of the Instant
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Dance of the Instant: The New Dance Group
Wellington 1945 - 1947
The New Dance Group played a key
role in pioneering modern dance in New Zealand in the 1940s – an inspiring
example of a young group without money or institutional support, who succeeded
in creating something new in the arts by sheer determination and innovative
thinking. Their story (which involves some well-known New Zealanders from
theatre and education) reflects the excitement of the immediate post-war years
in New Zealand.
This important, re-discovered slice of dance history - which grew out of
research by Marianne Schultz - is told in rich personal detail by director
Shirley Horrocks. The documentary features striking archival footage of the
group, lively and engaging interviews with surviving members, re-enactments,
and many rare photographs. The group was inspired by Martha Graham and Doris
Humphrey, pioneers of modern dance, with whom one of the members (Rona Bailey)
had studied in New York. The New Dance Group's performances tackled weighty
contemporary themes such as the mechanization of factory work and the atomic
bombing of Hiroshima.
46 minutes.
Dance of the Instant was a finalist for 5 awards and won 3 at the Documentary Edge Film Festival.
Winner Best New Zealand Short Documentary 2010,
Best Educational Documentary (NZ) 2010,
Best Research (NZ) 2010.
Documentary Edge Festival screenings
of Dance of the Instant:
Auckland
Sat 27th Feb 3.15p.m Rialto Cinema Newmarket
Wed 3rd March 1.30 p.m. Rialto Cinema
Wed 10th March 5.30 p.m. Rialto Cinema
Wellington
Sat 13th March 4.00p.m Angelika at Reading Cinemas
Weds 17th March 1.30 p.m.Angelika at Reading Cinemas
Wed 24th March 5.30 p.m. Angelika at Reading Cinemas
Sat 27th March 12.00 p.m. Wellington City Gallery
Arts Channel SKY TV screening: Tuesday 22nd December 8.30pm
Purchase this DVD at our online shop or contact us via email with your order.
Made with the support of 
Click here to read a review of the film by The NZ Performing Arts Review and Directory.