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

Not Vacant

Wellington

01/09/2009 - 05/09/2009

"Plot vacant..

"Wasted indeed..

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Gathering Clouds

Auckland, Wellington

05/03/2009 - 28/03/2009

"The Pacific experience..

"Bach goes nicely with Pacific Grace..

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Tent

Wellington, Auckland

01/10/2008 - 19/10/2008

"Artist pitches Tent on solid ground..

"Silence with intent intensifies; void/avoidance pervades..

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Giselle

Wellington

08/03/2008 - 12/03/2008

"Genius avant-garde he is not..

"Why didn’t they write another story?..

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Sacred Monsters

Wellington

07/03/2008 - 08/03/2008

"Dancing from the heart’s interior..

"A formidable team..

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Shen Wei Dance Arts

Wellington

28/02/2008 - 02/03/2008

"Urban angst and self-contained beauty..

"Not convinced..

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Giselle

Wellington

03/11/2006 - 11/11/2006

"Truly beautiful ballet..

"Meticulous restaging..
lucid

Dunedin, Wellington

23/06/2006 - 07/10/2006

"Desperate conclusions..

"Singular duality..
ink

Auckland, Wellington

21/09/2006 - 14/12/2006

"Hypnotic Existential Absurdism..

"Quickening senses..

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Beautiful City

Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington

06/09/2006 - 14/10/2006

"Exploratory experience..

"Prosaic abstractions..
The Seeds of Love

Wellington

05/09/2006 - 09/09/2006

"Depths and heights..

"All senses engaged..
SNAPSHOTS – A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Wellington

12/09/2006 - 16/09/2006

"Foot-tapping nostalgia + improv..

"Dancing the decades..
Watch This Space

Wellington

14/09/2006 - 16/09/2006

"More please!..

"Well worth watching..
BLACK GRACE & friends

Wellington

16/04/2006 - 20/04/2006

"Direction needed..

"Well executed and pleasant to watch..
Black Milk

Wellington

12/04/2006 - 13/04/2006

"The Wright Stuff..

"Darkness and life in Black Milk..
Aterballetto

Wellington

15/03/2006 - 18/03/2006

"Triumphant festival finale..
Bright Abyss

Wellington

02/03/2006 - 06/03/2006

"A joyous experience..

"Comedy with plenty of buzz..

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Aarero Stone

Wellington

04/03/2006 - 08/03/2006

"Opportunity wasted..

"Where is the key?..
Eva

Wellington

08/03/2006 - 12/03/2006

"Mesmerising rhythms..
The Wedding

Wellington

22/03/2006 - 26/03/2006

"Eye candy..

"Doubt doesn't do it..