“Hagley Dance Company had a huge impact on me continuing my dance studies and deciding that I could do this as a career.”

“… I’m now working with Atamira Dance Company, New Zealand’s leading Māori Contemporary Dance Company and we’ve just toured our 21st anniversary work Te Wheke around Aotearoa.”

“The shy girl that walked through those doors at the beginning of February 2017, too scared to admit that she wanted to be a dancer is now a professional dancer, working with an incredible dance company and has found her voice and space in this world, as cheesy as that is. None of this would have been possible without the influence of Hagley Dance Company as the first stepping stone to becoming a professional dancer.”

Dana Moore-Mudgway (August 2021)

Hagley Dance are very proud of two of our Māori Hagley Dance Company graduates, Abbie Rogers (HDC 2015) and Dana Moore-Mudgway (HDC2017) who are now members of New Zealand’s leading Māori contemporary dance Company - Atamira Dance Company, who are touring Aotearoa with their 21st Anniversary show Te Wheke. Dana and Abbie performed powerful solos and ensembles as ‘Hinengaro’ and ‘Tūpuna’ in a full-length show alongside some of New Zealand’s leading contemporary dancers in Te Wheke on Thursday 24th June at 7:30pm, at the James Hay Theatre, Ōtautahi.

This was the premier, and first performance event for both dancers with the Company in Ōtautahi. Tutors, Fleur de Thier, Naressa Gamble and Hagley College presented both wāhine with a special taonga to celebrate the special occasion.

“Te Wheke refers to the Octopus, our guardian on this long journey from past into future, activating healing now in this time we all share. Solo and ensemble expressions of darkness and light occur within shape shifting worlds of floating black silk. Layers of symbolism emanate through magical AV patterning and mesmeric soundscapes with lighting enhancing all - both revealing and hiding.”

“Titiro ki muri, haere whakamua - Look back, move forward”

Hagley Dance students were honoured to be lead in an inspiring specialist workshop run by our tuakana Abbie and Dana on Wednesday 23rd June 2021.

You can read the full article and interview from Dana in the attached file.