Anya Down
Performer

Ngāti Toa

Born and raised in Pōneke, Anya brings a rich blend of Māori and Irish heritage to her artistry, with strong connections to Ngāti Toa. She began her dance journey training part-time at Chilton Ballet Academy while balancing her academic studies, before moving on to the New Zealand School of Dance, where she majored in contemporary dance.

During her time at the New Zealand School of Dance, Anya embraced a wide range of performance opportunities, including working with Pacific Dance Festival and collaborating with choreographers Deja Vukona (2023) and Braedyn Togi (2024). She also performed in the 2022 World of WearableArt Show (WOW) under the direction of Malia Johnston. Her experience expanded further through collaborations with artists such as Felix Sampson, Kit Reilly, Matte Roffe, Victoria Columbus, Taane Mete, and Zoe Dunwoodie in the school’s End of Year Performance Seasons (2023 and 2024).

Graduating in 2024, Anya made her professional debut with The New Zealand Dance Company in 2025, performing in new works including 100 Winds and Home, Land and Sea by Moss Te Ururangi Patterson, and Whetū, the 2026 Tāmaki Tour, which included Tāwhiri’s Ring by ‘Isope ‘Akau’ola and a remount of A Murmuration by Bianca Hyslop.

For Anya, contemporary dance opens the mind to new ideas, pushes physical and creative boundaries, and brings the excitement of sharing work with audiences.

Beyond dance, Anya enjoys swimming in the ocean, playing the guitar, and heading to the cinema. She’s looking forward to this next chapter in her career.