{{Short description|New Zealand dance company, founded 1985}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} '''Footnote New Zealand Dance''' (founded in 1985) is New Zealand's oldest contemporary dance company.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Swarbrick|first1=Nancy|title=Creative life – Performing arts|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/creative-life/page-8|website=Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref> Based in Wellington, it has been described as "New Zealand’s most enduring and influential contemporary dance company."<ref name ='Horsley'>{{cite web|last1=Horsley|first1=Francesca|title=Interview: Deirdre Tarrant on retiring from Footnote Dance Company|url=http://www.listener.co.nz/culture/arts/dance/interview-deirdre-tarrant/|website=New Zealand Listener|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref>
==History==
Footnote was founded in 1985 by Wellington ballet teacher Deirdre Tarrant with a “dual commitment to fostering original works by local choreographers and composers, and establishing dance workshops in schools”.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schultz|first1=Marianne|title=Contemporary dance – New companies and international work, 1990s to 2000s|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/contemporary-dance/page-4|website=Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref> Tarrant had recently returned from dancing overseas; her vision was to 'establish a real community of creative dance people as well as to develop contemporary dance in New Zealand'.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Judson|first1=Natasha|title=Deirdre Tarrant to leave Footnote|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/6423485/Deirdre-Tarrant-to-leave-Footnote|website=DominionPost|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref> The company has played an important role in establishing and supporting contemporary dance in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ian|first1=Lochhead|title=Footnote put best foot forward|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/71621891/footnote-put-best-foot-forward|website=DominionPost|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref>
Footnote received government funding: in the early 1990s it shifted from project-based funding to receiving recurrent funding through Creative New Zealand.<ref name="Up">{{cite web|title=Up, up and away, 1991|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42596/up-up-and-away-1991|website=Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref>
In 2005 Footnote established its 'Forte' season, where a New Zealand dance artists working internationally was brought back to New Zealand to create a new work for the company.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rae|first1=Bernadette|title=Three decades of dance have fitting celebration|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment-reviews/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502967&objectid=11531033|accessdate=7 May 2016|agency=New Zealand Herald}}</ref>
Dancers and choreographers who have worked with Footnote include Michael Parmenter, Shona McCullagh, Malia Johnston, Raewyn Hill, Lisa Densem and Ross McCormack.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rae|first1=Bernadette|title=Footnote Dance at 30|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11479336|website=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref> The company regularly tours in New Zealand, and has performed in Shanghai, Berlin, Brussels, Antwerp and London.<ref name ='Horsley'/>
In 2015 the company marked its 30th anniversary with ''30 Forward'', a programme of works commissioned over the past ten years from the Forte seasons and a new work by Malia Johnston, ''Flip Pivot Boom''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bate|first1=Anna|title=Shifting every which way|url=http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8416|website=Theatre Review|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Harvie|first1=Julia|title=Long may it continue|url=http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8419|website=Theatre Review|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref>
==Present–day company==
In 2012 Tarrant stepped down as director and joined the company's arts advisory panel.<ref name="Up"/> Tarrant was succeeded by Malia Johnston.<ref>{{cite web|title=Footnote Dance announces new Director after 26 years|url=http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/footnote-dance-announces-new-director-after-26-years|website=Creative New Zealand|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref> Richard Aindow was general manager from 2014 - 2020<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-27|title=Richard Aindow – General Manager|url=https://footnote.org.nz/portfolio/richard-aindow-general-manager/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Footnote New Zealand Dance|language=en-NZ}}</ref> Brian Wood in 2021, and Zoë Nicholson joined in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Footnote Dance gets new general manager |url=https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=141038 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Wellington.Scoop |language=en}}</ref> Anita Hunziker leads the company's artistic vision as Artistic Manager.
The company was headquartered on Wellington's Cuba Street. In 2022, the company moved to a temporary studio in Northland, Wellington, while looking for a permanent premises.
The company is funded through Creative New Zealand, Wellington City Council, Wellington Community Trust, The Lion Foundation, and individual and family donors.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Footnote New Zealand Dance|url=http://footnote.org.nz/the-company/#about-footnote|website=Footnote|accessdate=7 May 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/201767761/deirdre-tarrant-footnote-nz-dance Deirdre Tarrant: Footnote NZ Dance], Radio NZ, 24 August 2015 * [http://footnote.org.nz/ Footnote website]
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Category:Arts in New Zealand Category:Modern dance companies Category:Culture in Wellington Category:1985 establishments in New Zealand Category:Dance companies in New Zealand