LIMBS DANCE COMPANY

HISTORY
(1977 - 1989)

"It was a winner…May they return to New York soon" wrote leading New York dance critic, Jennifer Dunning, after Limbs Dance Company's performance at the Lincoln Centre Out-of-Doors Festival in 1981.

Limbs Dance Company created a new audience for contemporary dance following its debut at the New Zealand Students Arts Festival at Victoria University in June 1977, which was greeted with wild enthusiasm. Based in Auckland, the company toured contemporary dance programmes throughout New Zealand from 1979 to its demise in 1989. The company also performed in at festivals in the United State, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.

The company amassed nearly 200 original choreographies during its 12 years' existence and collaborated with leading New Zealand composers such as Don McGlashan, Wayne Laird, Ivan Zagni and Jan Preston.

The artistic directors who were Chris Jannides (1977 - 1979). Mary-Jane O'Reilly (1978 - 1986) and with Cath Cardiff (1986 - 1989) fostered choreographers from within Limbs. During the early years Chris Jannides, Mary-Jane O'Reilly and Mark Baldwin were the main choreographers and the company produced a varied repertoire which incorporated classical ballet, jazz and modern dance styles as well as semi-improvisational theatre pieces.

As the company matured the works became more substantial and Mary-Jane, Douglas Wright, Brian Carbee and Shona McCullagh were the major choreographers. Occasionally guest choreographers were also invited to make work. They were Ruby Shang (USA), Graeme Watson (Australia), Kai Tai Chan (Australia), Garry Lester (Australia), John McLaughlin (USA), Paul Jenden (New Zealand) and Sue Healey (New Zealand).

Critics commented on the company's innovation and the highly skilled technical ability of the dancers thanks to an outstanding ballet mistress, Dorothea Ashbridge, who stayed with the company for 12 years. Limbs dancers went on to perform principal roles with leading contemporary dance companies overseas. Douglas Wright went to Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York, Mark Baldwin to Ballet Rambert in London, Alfred Williams and Adrian Batchelor to Sydney Dance Company, Shona Wilson to David Gordon Pick Up Company in New York, Dale Tanner to DV8 Physical Theatre in London and Chris Jannides and Kilda Northcott formed D'Arc Swan in Sydney. They often returned to dance or choreograph on the company.

Sue Paterson was general manager of the company from 1979 to 1986 and was replaced by Greg Fahey from 1986 to 1988 and Lyndsay Shaw in 1989. Chloe Smith was tour manager from 1980 to 1982 and was replaced by Irene Vanderlaan from 1983 to 1987. Geordie Thorpe and then Kit Surring were managers of a comprehensive community dance programme which ran from the Limbs studio in Brown St, Ponsonby, Auckland.

A large number of dancers performed with the company over the years. In chronological order:
Chris Jannides, Debra McCulloch, Julie Dunningham, Kilda Northcott, Mark Baldwin, Mary-Jane O'Reilly Adrian Batchelor, Lynda Amos, Shona Wilson, Douglas Wright, Alfred Williams, Susan Trainor, Brian Carbee, Kathryn Lawrence, Bruce Hopkins, Glenn Mayo, Mark White, Susan Peacock, Leary McNicholl, Felicity Molloy, Wendy Preston, Garry Lester, Shona McCullagh, Taiaroa Royal, Peter Sperlich, Will Thompson, Leanne Plunkett, Dale Tanner, Lisel Grigg, Catherine Chappell, Katie McDermott, Marianne Schultz, Leonie Kaywood, Joanne Kelly, Jude Froude and Stephen Nunley.
Debra McCulloch was the longest serving dancer of the company and was responsible for putting together the archival video with video producer, Alan Stuart.

Limbs contribution to the contemporary dance scene is highly visible. The Douglas Wright Dance Company featuring leading dancers Kilda Northcott and Taiaroa Royal received critical acclaim at international prestigious dance festivals. Mary-Jane O'Reilly, Shona McCullagh, Brian Carbee, Catherine Chappell, Taiaroa Royal and Marianne Schultz continue to choreograph productions on an ongoing basis. Mark Baldwin has become a well established choreographer in London. Mary-Jane O'Reilly is the director of Auckland Dance Company, lecturing at SCAPA, Auckland University and offering Mindflex training to Corporates, and Chris Jannides is Director of the Dance School at UNITEC. Sue Paterson is Manager of the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company and Cath Cardiff works as the dance and drama Programme Manager for Creative New Zealand.

Limbs retro.spective 2001
25 years of memories.
NZ$17.00 including postage and handling.
Contact MJ O’Reilly @ Auckland Dance Company for more information.

PO Box 47 065
Auckland 1002
New Zealand

Tel: (09) 360 2106
Fax: (09) 360 8238
Email: aucklanddance@xtra.co.nz