Company speaking whole new language

This August, witness the emergence of Aotearoa's freshest new performance company, the New Zealand Dance Company.

In their premiere season, the dance company presents Language of Living at Auckland's ASB Theatre, THE EDGE from August 10-11.

The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) aims to change the way New Zealanders see and experience contemporary dance.

The NZDC's artistic director, Shona McCullagh, says: "Globally, dance is at a high point right now, which is really exciting. Our mission is to unravel the current perception in New Zealand of contemporary dance being elitist and inaccessible. "There's no reason why it should be out of reach or irrelevant on the fringes. Sharing the power of dance is what we are really passionate about."

The company's first foray is a diverse programme of five works entitled Language of Living - inspired by the belief that dance is the most beautifully truthful language of living.

The five works on the programme - choreographed by Michael Parmenter, Shona McCullagh, Sarah Foster-Sproull and Justin Haiu - showcase some of New Zealand's finest dancers: Ursula Robb, Alex Leonhartsberger, Craig Bary, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Justin Haiu, Hannah Tasker-Poland, Tupua Tigafua and Lucy Lynch as artistic athletes in innovative and relevant choreography.

The programme opens with Evolve, a solo choreographed by McCullagh featuring a global dance superstar - Robb, who has also worked with the Paris Opera.

Evolve features the animations of Japanese artist Macoto Murayama, a soundscore by composer John Elmsly and design work by Andreas Mikellis, AUT's head of fashion in collaboration with CoLab.

Respected dance authority Michael Parmenter's duet Tenerezza works on the premise that no movement occurs without initiation by the other. Beautifully danced by Craig Bary and Justin Haiu, music by C.P.E Bach is performed live by David Guerin on piano.

Release your Robot is choreographed and danced by So You Think You Can Dance star Haiu. Inspired by street dance movement known as robot and liquiding, Release Your Robot features an original score by South Auckland trio the Electric Boutique, who will perform live.

McCullagh's second work, Trees, Birds then People is a group work set to Gareth Farr's Mondo Rondo performed live by the NZTrio. This playful work is inspired by New Zealand's bird life and explores the shifting hierarchy in relationships.

Human Human God, by Sarah Foster-Sproull, is a poignant and comical piece about Generation Y by a Generation X-er and features music by Motorcade's Eden Mulholland.