Lydia Zanetti, one of the dance coordinators, says having so many short and varied acts on each night is the key to the festival's success and to the audience's enjoyment. It also means spectators are exposed to works they might not have otherwise sought out. "I'm always surprised by the pieces that speak to different people."
"It's a "fully fledged production with lighting, music and costumes," she adds. It features a diverse range of genres including hula, hip hop, contemporary, ballet and even belly dancing, to name just some.
Zanetti says at each evening throughout the month-long event the audience and judges vote which are the best shows. On the final Sunday of the festival a gala show highlights the "best of each genre".
We asked Zanetti to pick some favourite performers to keep an eye out for in this week's dance shows. She recommends the following:
• British-born Auckland-based dancer, choreographer and singer James Luck. He was in the Auckland Theatre Company's Chicago recently as a singer and dancer in the core cast. The 21-year-old has travelled the world and worked with such acts as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Birds of Tokyo and Sia. He's choreographing and dancing in a "high-energy" piece called Gifted at Tapac. "He's coming from a more jazz background, like Broadway, and his piece is quite different to the others which makes it really exciting," says Zanetti.
• Auckland's Ula Buliruarua, who won the title of best female performer at last year's Short+Sweet Festival with her contemporary dance piece. Her performance this year is "of a similar ilk", says Zanetti, and is titled Face. It explores the varied faces of a dancer. She has been dancing for 4-5 years. Zanetti describes her performance this week as "quite charming". "She's a beautiful mover who is highly watchable ... She can be incredibly funny and affecting at the same time. She manages to touch something human in you."
• Lucy Marinkovich will be among a trio of masked dancers performing to original music by a Kiwi band. She is among a few groups bringing works from Wellington and comes from a contemporary background. Her dance is "so Euro", says Zanetti. "She's worked internationally with Footnote Dance Company and so it's really exciting to have her different perspective on what dance can be." She is performing in the upcoming Tempo Dance Festival in Auckland.
• Auckland's Rose Philpott has just returned from training in Spain. "She tends to make works that are heartfelt and sweet - that are just really wonderful," says Zanetti.
Short+Sweet has been running in New Zealand since 2010, having begun 12 years ago in Sydney. The festival is also performed in southeast Asia and has been adapted for other countries, too. In total, this festival has involved 50 directors, 40 playwrights, 30 choreographers, nine composers and close to 300 performers.
Short+Sweet Dance is at Tapac, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs, Auckland from September 16-21. Book at tapac.org.nz and find out more about the festival at shortandsweet.org.nz
