New Zealand School of Dance

Phone
+64 4 381 9252

NZSD contemporary dance students Molly Walker and Strahan Cormican-Jones. Photographer: Stephen A’Court.

The full-time tertiary programmes offered by the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) are aimed at developing the qualities essential for professional dancers: strong technique, musicality, coordination and dedication to the art form. NZSD students major in either classical ballet or contemporary dance, but maintain a strong base in their minor discipline.

The NZSD has an outstanding faculty of dance teaching staff. Guest tutors from around the world and specialists in anatomy, dance history, sports medicine, nutrition, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, yoga and pilates round out the holistic training.

The School’s impressive purpose built facilities house nine dance studios, a 160 seat theatre, specialist performing arts library, pilates studio and physiotherapy rooms. Students have full access to a state-of-the-art gym and have regular training sessions with a personal trainer. The School is Official School of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Excellent secondment opportunities are available through the School’s relationships with leading ballet and contemporary dance companies around the world.

NZSD has between 85-100 full-time students and in addition, runs the Young Dancer programmes. NZSD is funded by the Ministry of Education through the Tertiary Education Commission and is registered with the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Courses

New Zealand Diploma in Dance. This course sits at Level 6 on the NZ Qualifications Framework and is a two-year full time course designed to prepare students for a performance career.

Upon completion, students may apply to complete the New Zealand School of Dance Diploma in Dance Performance. This course sits at Level 7 on the NZ Qualifications Framework (equivalent to an undergraduate degree) and focuses on providing performance opportunities and industry experience.

Main subjects: Classical ballet, contemporary dance. Allied subjects: nutrition, yoga, pilates, anatomy, music and dance history. For classical majors – pas de deux, repertoire, pointe, virtuosic coaching, choreography. For contemporary majors – partnering, improvisation, repertoire, yoga and choreography.

Practical dance classes per week: 30-40 hours.

Contact hours per day: 8.30 – 5.45 (Monday to Friday) and 8.30 – 12.30 (Saturdays). More hours may be required at certain times.

Pre-requisites/entry requirements: Students are usually 16 to 18 years old when entering the full-time course. Preference will be given to students who have attained NCEA Level 1 (Yr 11 NZ or Yr 10 Australia) and who have reached a level in classical ballet equivalent to RAD Advanced 1 (IDTA Advanced level 1, BBO Advanced 1, Cecchetti Advanced 1, BAL Intermediate). International students are required to understand conversational English. Auditions will be held in Wellington, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Candidates who are unable to audition in person are encouraged to participate in the NZSD Digital Auditions.

Main teachers: Garry Trinder (Director), Paula Steeds-Huston, Christine Gunn, Amber Scott, Holly Newsome, Robert Mills, Nadine Tyson, Turid Revfeim, Maksim Temnikov, Matte Roffe, Gina Andrews, plus international guest teachers throughout the year.?Audition date: ?Digital: 9 September. Live auditions: 28 September, 1, 2 & 4 October.

Audition requirements: Candidates must complete an online application form at www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz, and pay an application fee, to secure an audition. The audition consists of a classical technique class and a contemporary technique class. An interview with the audition panel is also required.

Fees: NZ$ 9,377 + student services levy* (subject to change) *Based on 2024 fees.

Scholarships or subsidies: Scholarships may be available to students who have successfully completed at least one year of study at NZSD, on the grounds of financial hardship.

Possible career options: Most graduates enter careers in dance performance, around 70% of students gaining contracts within six months of graduating. Recent graduates are dancing with Akram Khan Company (UK), Atamira (NZ), The Australian Ballet (AU), Australian Dance Theatre (AU), Ballet Arizona (US), Black Grace (NZ), Co:3 Australia (AU), Dancenorth (AU), English National Ballet (UK), Footnote New Zealand Dance (NZ), Hofesh Shechter II (UK), Houston Ballet (US), Java Dance Company (NZ), Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (IL), Leipzig Ballet (DE), The National Ballet of Canada (CA), New Zealand Dance Company (NZ), Queensland Ballet (AU), Rambert (UK), Royal New Zealand Ballet (NZ), The Sarasota Ballet (US), Singapore Dance Theatre (SG), Studio Wayne McGregor (UK), Sydney Dance Company (AU), Thüringer Staatsballett (DE), The Washington Ballet (US), West Australian Ballet (AU) New Zealand School of Dance alumni also work in related fields such as physiotherapy, dance teaching, pilates instruction, arts administration, research, dance notation, dance film, photography and journalism.