Contemporary dance is about questioning your own values, says Deirdre Tarrant, the director of Footnote Dance.
For some in the audience in Dannevirke on Saturday night, the answer to those questions came by walking out of the company's performance.
"It's something which hasn't happened before," Ms Tarrant said. "We've taken contemporary dance to the world and it's opened the eyes of audiences everywhere, but never before have people left during the performance."
Dannevirke dance teacher Melissa Martin conceded the Footnote production had taken a lot of locals out of their comfort zone.
"Personally, I loved the show, but there were those who were taken right out of the cultural comfort zone," she said. "Even some who stayed for the entire show said it wasn't their cup of tea, However, they appreciated the artistic value and the skill of the dancers and what their dances represented. This certainly wasn't a performance with pretty, pink tutus and melodious music. It was avant garde and out there."
Miss Martin had 55 of her young pupils at the performance and, although not stereotypical of what they expected of dance, all appeared to relish the experience, she said.
"One 4-year-old boy was saying, 'shush, I'm watching this'. and the others had their eyes glued to the stage."
While it was the provocative (Sex) which sent some scurrying for the door, Miss Martin said there were also a few in the audience who'd left earlier.
"I think it's good for people to see avant garde pieces," she said. "Then they can make an informed decision and yes, the Footnote production opened a few eyes pretty wide."
Footnote were in Dannevirke for one performance of Made In New Zealand and a workshop on Sunday.
"The wonderful thing about dance is that it's universal and the six young people in Footnote at the moment are all at the top of their game," Ms Tarrant said. "They're wonderful ambassadors for dance."
She should know all about great New Zealand ambassadors in the arts. Her son Bret McKenzie, one half of the The Flight Of The Conchords, won best original song for Man or Muppet, from The Muppets film, at this year's Oscars. "The special thing about Footnote is that it opens the eyes of the audience through unique pieces of choreography," Ms Tarrant said. "Contemporary dance should always have people questioning what is happening, it should take you out of your comfort zone."
On Sunday, young dancers of all ages had to step outside their own personal comfort zones as they participated in workshops exploring choreography and dance, based on Trance Like Happiness by choreographer Sarah Foster-Sproull.
"I've used a piece in which Sarah calls on her experiences in Israel, with the children focusing on two particular aspects of Sarah's work," Ms Tarrant explained.
In their first workshop segment, the Dannevirke dancers learned how having no choices or options, but being the same, could be reflected in their dance. The children were then taken to the opposite end of the spectrum, creating their own dance pieces, including a dream scene.
Cutting a flower for mum and cooking her pancakes, to fashionistas and representing New Zealand at the Olympics and dream sequences that included walking on clouds, competing in rowing in Dannevirke and a fantasy underground candy store, all were depicted through dance. "The children had a ball, they wanted more and it was an exciting concept for them," Miss Martin said.
After they complete their Made in New Zealand tour, Footnote Dance will travel to the Frankfurt book fair where they will present their interpretation of consumerism.