Deirdre Tarrant

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Deirdre Tarrant CNZM founded Footnote Dance in 1985, and led it to become the national treasure of choreography and dance exploration it now is. Her own ballet background began in Wellington with Jeane Horne and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. A QE2 study grant took her overseas to dance and on her return she choreographed a number of works for the RNZB. She has developed many works for Footnote and led creative change as the company has evolved over 29 years, including Pick up Sticks (New Zealand Festival), Outside the Square and War in Paradise. Deirdre has recently retired from her role as Artistic Director of Footnote and also from her role as an international examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance. She is  Director of Tarrant Dance Studios and the Deirdre Tarrant Dance Theatre, a youth company with a commitment to integrating dance as a vital part of the Wellington community. Deirdre was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the community in 2000, a Distinguished Alumni of Victoria University in 2006 and received an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian award and was Arts Wellingtonian of the year 2012. In 2013 she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to contemporary dance. She has reviewed dance works for Capital Times, Radio New Zealand and Theatreview for a number of years.

Deirdre Tarrant's reviews

Once Upon A Dance

Palmerston North, Dunedin, Paekākāriki, Wellington

04/03/2018 - 11/10/2018

"A strong, joyous, survivor message..

"Dancing lives brought together..

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BARRIER NINJA

Wellington

07/06/2018 - 09/06/2018

"Storytelling at its best..
DANCING WITH MOZART

Palmerston North, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Christchurch

31/05/2018 - 08/07/2018

"Fine fettle to the fore..

"Mid-winter Mozart treat..

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2AM PHONE CALL

Wellington

10/03/2018 - 13/03/2018

"Intimate exchanges..
O VERTIGO

Wellington

07/02/2018 - 10/02/2018

"Prosaic normality and clever freestyle dance..
NZ School of Dance 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRADUATION SEASON

Wellington

24/11/2017 - 25/11/2017

"Panache, precision, poignancy ... and period pieces..

"Classical ballet legacy and contemporary excitement..
ONCE

Wellington, Auckland

08/09/2017 - 08/10/2017

"Testing the mettle of creative contributors..

"Solo choreographies a tribute to talented graduates..

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ROMEO & JULIET - the Royal NZ Ballet 2017

Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier

16/08/2017 - 24/09/2017

"A grand spectacle..

"Sumptuous styling..

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Fire In The Water, Fire In The Sky

Wellington

13/06/2017 - 17/06/2017

"A Stab in the Waist of Life:..

"A Silent Flame..

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Three By Ekman

Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin

17/05/2017 - 16/06/2017

"Exploration and adventure..

"Voiceovers, incongruity and the unexpected..

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CARMEN with L'ARLESIENNE

Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Wellington, Auckland

16/02/2017 - 22/03/2017

"Carmen and L'Arlésienne shouldn't be missed..

"Power of Petit..

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DÓDEKA

Wellington

25/02/2017 - 26/02/2017

"Talent plus attitudinal aggression..
NZ School of Dance Graduation Season (2016)

Wellington

16/11/2016 - 26/11/2016

"Utter commitment from NZSD dancers..
GISELLE - The Royal NZ Ballet

Wellington, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland

11/08/2016 - 03/09/2016

"Simply superb in every way..

"Giselle: Delicate, defined, and dynamic..

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PEDAL.PEDDLE

Wellington, Auckland

13/03/2015 - 04/03/2017

"Patchwork narcissi..

"A solo to remember..

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THE WIZARD OF OZ

Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier

04/05/2016 - 12/06/2016

"Artistic license provokes sighs..

"Women are the standouts in the Wizard of Oz..

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THE BLUE-BEARDED LADY

Wellington, Christchurch

27/09/2015 - 02/04/2016

"Utterly charming in a ghoulish kind of way...

"A fierce re-gendering of a classic tale..

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Our Catharsis

Wellington, Christchurch

09/10/2013 - 04/03/2016

"Small, personal, wry and cleverly engaging..

"Unique, intelligent, thought-provoking work..
KNITTING WHILE SLEEPING

Wellington

24/02/2016 - 27/02/2016

"Visceral and compelling Fringe show..
*NZSD GRADUATION SEASON 2015

Wellington

18/11/2015 - 28/11/2015

"SHINE IN ABUNDANCE, BUT WE WANT MORE..

"A real graduation gala..
SALUTE - Remembering World War

Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier

22/05/2015 - 25/06/2015

"Movement knows no bounds..

"Dancers give everything they have..

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