Pacific Dance New Zealand (PDNZ) Overview:
Purpose: to foster, support and develop the Pacific dance sector in New Zealand.
2011 Partners: Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ), Auckland Council, Creative NZ, Lion Foundation, ASB Community Trust and the Pacific Media Network.
Pacific Dance New Zealand (PDNZ) was formed in 2010 and is located at 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn in Auckland. It is a development organisation delivering a wide range of services for the Pacific dance sector of New Zealand.
These services include:
- selecting and supporting a two month Pacific Dance Artist Residency in Manukau,
- supporting emerging dance practitioners through our choreographic labs,
- providing performance opportunities for our Pacific dance community,
- producing professional dance theatre performances,
- providing mentoring services and workshops
- and running community dance classes.
PDNZ Personnel
The operation is managed by director, Iosefa Enari with the support of dance development officer Filoi Vaila'au, and marketing officer Aaron Taouma, and is guided by an Advisory Committee.
This small team manages to deliver a large programme that is in keeping with the aspirations and goals of Pacific dance practitioners who are looking to maintain a career in the New Zealand dance industry and beyond.
Iosefa Enari
Iosefa is a professional dancer with many years experience who now works as a choreographer, director and educationalist.
Iosefa brings to this directorial position a wealth of knowledge as a former University lecturer, writer and commentator on the state of dance in New Zealand.
He holds a masters degree from the University of Auckland (MCPA – Dance Studies) and was the former convenor for the Pacific Music and Dance courses at the University of Auckland.
He is the former head of Polynesian dance studies at Te Wananga O Aotearoa and a former assessor for the Dance Board at Creative New Zealand.
Filoi Vaila’au
Filoi holds a Bachelor of Pacific Performing Arts degree from the University of Auckland. She is a Samoan dance instructor and was nominated at the 2009 TEMPO NZ Festival of Dance as ‘best female dancer’ for her performance in Fanua (a contemporary Pacific dance work).
Aaron Taouma
Marketing and Communications officer dealing with PDNZ’s publicity, marketing and communications, Aaron has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in sociology and media studies (University of Auckland). He has had years working in the educational sector, is the former Chair of the Pacific Islands Media Association, a former reporter for Pacific Radio News (Radio 531pi and NiuFM) and a former reporter for TVNZ’s Tagata Pasifika.