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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.
Made
with the support of 
Click here to read a review of the film by The NZ Performing Arts Review and Directory.