Hamilton Arts Festival 2026: Voice of Vision a visually striking dance experience

Identity Dance Company showcased high-energy, fast-paced choreography at Hamilton Arts Festival. Photo / Abby Dalgety

What: The Voice of Vision

Presented by: Identity Dance Company as part of Hamilton Arts Festival - Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa

When: February 22, 2026

Where: Rhododendron Lawn at Hamilton Gardens

Reviewed by Abby Dalgety

Identity Dance Company (IDCO) is an Auckland-based street dance company internationally recognised for its futuristic style and innovative choreography.

Their latest production, The Voice of Vision, presented at the Hamilton Arts Festival, continued this reputation for pushing creative and physical boundaries.

The performance opened with a box covered in a white sheet at centre stage.

At first, several audience members appeared unaware that the show had begun.

Subtle movements emerged from beneath the fabric, hands, arms, and eventually a face, creating an eerie yet compelling introduction.

This slow and restrained opening contrasted sharply with what followed.

Once the music began, the pace shifted dramatically into a sustained 60-minute display of high-energy, fast-paced choreography.

The first crew set a strong benchmark, presenting a tightly polished routine that suggested an elite group of performers and choreographers specialising in high-energy hip hop.

Voice of Vision was a performance by Identity Dance Company.

The second group entered in co-ordinated costumes, with their uniform appearance enhancing the visual impact and cohesion of the performance.

One of the highlights was a sequence themed around television and digital scrolling.

Flashes of Titanic, David Attenborough, and Mission Impossible soundtracks, while the dancers responded with an immersive hip hop choreography.

The combination of familiar media references and movement created moments that were both visually engaging and lightly humorous.

Towards the end of the performance, a group of young audience members could be seen dancing at the back of the Rhododendron Lawn, inspired by the performers on stage.

This spontaneous response from the children highlighted the venue’s suitability for family-friendly dance events, offering space for movement and active engagement.

Olive, 11, who attended the show with her friend Chloe, described the performance as “fun and high energy”.

An aspiring dancer and performer herself, she said the show inspired her and reinforced her interest in pursuing dance.

One aspect noted by several audience members was the use of explicit language in the soundtrack, with no clean versions of songs performed.

This prompted a few audible reactions from parents attending with younger children.

While Identity Dance Company is known for providing content advisories about explicit language in their performances, no such warning appeared on the Hamilton Arts Festival website, which listed the show as suitable for all ages.

For families comfortable with some strong language, the production remained a high-impact and entertaining experience.

Abby Dalgety is a tutor at the School of Media Arts at Wintec in Hamilton. She has been writing reviews for Waikato Herald since 2023.