If Never
Was Now

Stephanie Lake’s If Never was Now is a surreal hive of buzzing activity reflecting the beauty and brutality of the natural world through "…moments of darkness, violent aggression, frustration with chaos amongst playfulness”(Theatreview). Somewhere in the future, but also with a feeling that it’s right at the beginning, Lake, who is one of the world’s most innovative choreographers, allows room for ambiguity with the contrast of the digital and robotic world paired against the biological and natural.

If Never was Now was presented in the program Kiss The Sky

The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) forges its stellar national and international reputation for powerful contemporary dance with its first national tour of Kiss The Sky, “a diverse magical experience” that “grabs your attention from start to finish” (DANZ).

Artistic Director Shona McCullagh showcases an Asia-Pacific constellation of dance, original music, and design, reflecting on the themes of nature and time.

Kiss The Sky combines the high-octane physicality of Korean choreographer and composer KIM Jae Duk in his work Sigan; the vibrant aesthetic of New Zealand’s Victoria Colombus in her world premiere work The Fibonacci with the powerhouse choreography of renowned Stephanie Lake in the eccentric and imaginative If Never Was Now for “an evening of sensory indulgence” (Theatreview).

With design by Jo Kilgour (lighting), Ben (Bosco) Shaw (lighting), Elizabeth Whiting (costume), Andrew Treloar (costume), Rachael Walker (set) and Robin Fox (composer) the exceptional ”versatility, virtuosity and artistry” from the high-calibre NZDC dancers and “excellence of the design and production teams” (NZ Herald) Kiss The Sky will leave you dreaming for more.