Why NZSD?

The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) is one of the Southern Hemisphere's leading dance training institutions, preparing students for careers in professional dance performance.

Established in 1967, the NZSD has an international reputation. It is known for producing versatile and employable dancers, skilled in classical ballet and contemporary dance. The School's unique training develops qualities that meet the needs of the dance profession while extending the boundaries of the art form.

The School has established a stong international profile, being invited to become a Scholarship provider to the Youth America Grand Prix (New York) in 2004, recognised as a Partner School of the Prix de Lausanne (Switzerland) in 2005, and director Garry Trinder appointed President of the jury for the Asian Grand Prix (Hong Kong) in 2012.

Source : http://www.nzschoolofdance.ac.nz/

Born in Auckland, Turid began dancing in Taupo travelling to Auckland for her final exams before her acceptance into the National Ballet School (now known as the New Zealand School of Dance) in 1979. After graduating in 1980 and touring with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB), she spent four years as a soloist with the Theater der Stadt Koblenz in Germany. In Europe, she also danced at the prestigious Bayreuthe Festspiel.

Returning to New Zealand, Turid re-joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet as a dancer in 1986 and was promoted to soloist in 1993. Turid completed her Bachelor of Arts at QUT while still a dancer with the company. In 1999 she retired from dancing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and took up the position of Artistic Coordinator with the company. In 2003 she was appointed Ballet Mistress and remained in the role for 11 years until leaving the RNZB in 2014 andtaking up the position of Classical Tutor at the New Zealand School of Dance. Recently, Turid has written the history of the New Zealand School of Dance, which was published in 2017 for the School’s 50^th Anniversary.

The RNZB has performed four of her works; Si Supieras for the 2004 Otago Festival of the Arts and was restaged for Tutus on Tour 2005. Three over Four and Bernarda Alba's House featured in the 1999 Originals season and Kleines Requiem in 2000's Next Step season.

Sacha Copland is the Artistic Director of Java Dance Theatre and founded the company in 2003. Over the past 13 years Sacha has developed Java's distinctly sensory theatrical style, choreographing and producing more than 17 full length dance theatre works, garnering critical acclaim, box office success and international touring. Sacha has fulfilled commissions for Dance4 in Nottingham UK, Wellington Orchestra, New Zealand School of Dance, Capital E National Arts Festival and STAB (BATS Theatre annual production showcase).

Sacha is the Head of Contemporary for the Junior Associates Programme at the New Zealand School of Dance. In 2012 Sacha received a Distinguished Graduate award from the New Zealand School of Dance. In 2016 she became a TEDx speaker and in 2016-17 an ASSITEJ Next Generation Alumni.