Festival highlights include dance, drama

A leading French contemporary dance company, a major new theatre work, an evocative new score for the classic silent movie A Throw of the Dice and a multi-venue arts exhibition are four key acts for Auckland's third biennial festival, AK07.

Angelin Preljocaj and his dance company, Compagnie Preljocaj, will present their latest work set to Vivaldi's Four Seasons at The Edge during the festival, from March 9 to 24.

As well as the dance company, festival chief executive David Malacari confirmed last night that DJ, multi-instrumentalist and orchestral producer Nitin Sawhney would perform with his seven-piece band and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra a live score for the 1929 Indian film Throw of the Dice.

On the local front, director Christian Penny and Jade Eriksen will present David Geary's new play, Pen-umbra, a journey through the lives of more than 40 characters, spanning three generations, against a backdrop of New Zealand's political and social history.

The Auckland Art Gallery, in partnership with Artspace, the Gus Fisher Gallery and St Paul Street Gallery, will present Turbulence, the third Auckland triennial. Victoria Lynn of Melbourne will curate the main visual arts event, which explores emotional states emerging from real and imagined journeys. It will be held at the four public and private galleries.

Mr Malacari said the four acts were "only a taste of the wonderful programme" to be announced in October.