KEY POINTS:
What: National Certificate in Dance Performance
Where: Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
11 Hutchison Rd, Newtown, Wellington
phone (04) 381 9211
Email here
website www.nzschoolofdance.co.nz
Costs: $4033 a year plus $550 annual student services levy and uniform.
Starting salary: $28,840
Pre-requisites: Entry by audition. Classical applicants, minimum age 16 years upon entry, maximum age 19 on enrolment. Contemporary applicants, minimum age 16 upon entry, maximum age 20 on enrolment. Preference is given to students who have attained NCEA Level 2 and who have reached a level in classical ballet equivalent to RAD Advanced 1 .
Course dates: January 31 - December 2
Application Deadline: August 31
Like so many little girls Alayna Ng set her heart on becoming a dancer when her mother took her to watch Swan Lake at age nine. A decade later she is now performing in Swan Lake in Auckland from June 13-17 as a dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Alayna joined the ballet company after graduating from the New Zealand School of Dance's two-year Certificate in Dance Performance. The certificate generally leads onto the NZSD Diploma in Dance Performance, which takes a further year.
Students choose to specialise in either classical or contemporary dance. The first year focuses on the foundation of classical ballet and contemporary dance technique. It also introduces complementary subjects, practical and academic. In the second year, students refine technical strengths, develop performance skills and dance in regular performances.
The classical programme includes ballet technique, contemporary dance technique, pas de deux, classical repertoire, coaching, pointe and character. Separate men's classes focus on the physical strength, power and brilliance of male dancing with particular emphasis on elevation, pirouettes and batterie.
The contemporary programme involves dance technique, classical ballet technique, contemporary repertoire, modern partnering, choreographic practice, yoga, composition and improvisation.
As well, subjects such as nutrition, core stability and cardiovascular fitness cover the profession's physical aspects, focusing on students' health and wellbring. Theoretical classes include dance history, anatomy and general music studies.
Students dance for at least 25 hours a week, over four terms of 10 weeks. Each year's intake is around 60 students, with the ratio of males to females being 1:4.
Graduates are snapped up by dance companies in New Zealand and internationally by the likes of Black Grace, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, Royal Danish Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre.
THE GRADUATE
Alayna Ng (19)
Dancer, Royal New Zealand Ballet
Graduated in November 2006
As a child, I was encouraged to try many extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music and dance; but ballet was my only true passion.
The progression has been steady. I began dancing at the age of four. I was inspired to pursue a career in dance after my mother took me to watch my first ballet, Swan Lake. However, having a good academic education is also important, so I remained at school till the end of Year 12, studying dance part-time. After that I had two years of full-time tertiary training at the New Zealand School of Dance.
The NZ School of Dance's training programme improved my classical and contemporary techniques, performance and physical and mental stamina to learn new choreography in preparation for a professional career.
As a student at the New Zealand School of Dance, I was lucky enough to be seconded with the Royal New Zealand Ballet on their seasons of The Wedding and Giselle. I got know all the other dancers and they shared their experiences with me. I could see how life was as a dancer in the company, and the range of repertoire in classical and contemporary works the company performs. It was then that I realised that I wanted to be a part of the company when I graduated from the NZ School of Dance. I was invited to join the company in February this year; and a bonus is that the company happens to be in my hometown, Wellington.
Technically, National Certificate in Dance Performance is not a pre-requisite to joining the RNZB as jobs are also offered to dancers who do not have this qualification. Emphasis is placed more on the audition. However, the RNZB is familiar with and recognises the qualification.
My long-term goals are to dance internationally and the ultimate company for me would be the American Ballet Theatre.
THE EMPLOYER
Gary Harris, Artistic Director, Royal New Zealand Ballet
Alayna has got talent, she works hard, she's focused and, having worked with the company last year, I knew that she would fit in straight away.
The training of techniques learned at NZ School of Dance is used in a dancer's everyday work; from warm up class through to performance. Students not only receive intensive training, but also performance experience which gives them confidence as artists. It's important for young dancers to have strong technique when going to a professional company.
