Kia ora,
I’m Kerry-Ann
Dance is my personal practice, and I am deeply committed to the role of dance in health, well-being and creative expression for everyone.
I like to share the joy of dance with everyone! I teach both in the community and in my garden dance studio at home.
I cannot remember
ever not dancing…
THE STORY OF MY DANCE JOURNEY
At four, once Mum had taught me left and right, I started ballet classes…
I started at the Nettleton Edwards School of Dance then went onto Modern & Contemporary dance with Basil Pattinson, Creative Dance with Mrs. van Zon, Jazz with the Maggie Burke dancers while at University, Contemporary with first Limbs and later Poyema and Jenny de Leon, Divinely Dancing Dancing with Lizzie Haylock before 5 Rhythms with Christina Demmler, Geordie Jahner and Sacha Paddy.
I have finally found my home with Open Floor; as a dancer and as a teacher and dance guide.
Outside of classes I danced at home, sometime for myself and sometimes (I cringe now) for my parents’ dinner guests. AND in my teenage years I somehow managed to wrangle dancing to Led Zeppelin in my local Church. Given this was the early 1970’s I can’t think how this came about. However, I do remember flinging myself about with great expression. And at parties why talk and lie about when I could dance?!
Fast forward to 2023 and I still derive great pleasure and a large measure of sanity from dancing, my way. At some point my whole being settles into the dance, and no matter what else is going on in my life, the ‘YES’ for life is there: Connection with self, others, and spirit.
I am with the character Peanuts on this one:
To DANCE is to LIVE
Current Dance Work:
Inspirited Aging –conscious movement, mindfulness and artistry
Dancing Doyennes – a creative contemporary class for over 60’s
Sit Walk Dance – a movement meditation class
Open Floor Dance with Kerry-Ann
Formal Training:
Registered OPEN FLOOR Dance Teacher (2018)
Post-Graduate Diploma Creative & Performing Arts - Dance Studies, with Distinction, at Auckland University (2013)
Dance Mobility (2012)
Registered Independent Celebrant with a Certificate of Celebrant Studies NZ
Certificate Ontological Coaching, (Newfield Group – USA)
Diploma Teaching, Trained Teachers Certificate (NZ)
BA (Sociology) Canterbury University, NZ
Previous Dance Work:
Open Floor Dance Out West in partnership with Ingrid Nagl
Feisty Feet (a senior’s dance class run on contract for NZDC, The New Zealand Dance Company) 2016 - 2021
Community Education Manager, The New Zealand Dance Company, Sep 2014 – Dec 2016
Volunteer:
Free Dance Guide Te Ata Community Mental Health (2014)
Tempo Dance Festival – volunteer over a number of years, variety of tasks including coordinating volunteers
Dance Reviewer – Theatreview (2013)
Artists in Movement – pilot programme with disabled artists at Spark Centre 2013 (now Mapura)
Education mentor and project documentation - New Zealand Dance Company pilot Youth Engagement Programme, Kowhai Intermediate (2102)
Free dance session once a week with 16 – 18-year-old girls on remand at Auckland Regional Womens Correction Facility (February – July 2011)
Recent Performance/Community Participation Events and Projects:
2023 Open Floor International’s Open House Online Flight of the Hands – An Art in Motion/Inspirited Aging session
2023 Consultant for Ceremony & Ritual, Soundscape provider for Movement Ritual within project These Relations are Forever - Jemma Woolmore, https://science-art-society.ec.europa.eu/these-relations-are-forever
2023 Seasoned 2023, Celebrating the Maturing Mover Dancing Doyennes, What is it to move creatively?
2022 Dance as a Celebration of Life 75th birthday gathering
2022 Free Falling … Failure as a Blessing ICMTA Teachers Gathering Online
2022 Feet 1st ICMTA online
2022 Open Floor International’s Open House Online InSpirited Aging, move, write, create, move again
2017 Are We There Yet? Feisty Feet at Auckland War Memorial Museum
2016 Keepsake Feisty Feet at Auckland War Memorial Museum
2014 Harbourview Sculpture Trail, using dance as part of a Pukeko labyrinth installation (with Kathrine Fraser)
2013 “that on our lonely path”, as part of RITES New Rituals for the Living
2013 “witnessed and moved” – a community participation piece for Lopdell House Gallery as part of the New Lynn Christmas Festival
What People Are Saying