Meet our students and graduates

Caitlin Williams

“Dancing is my passion; I can't imagine my life without it. What I really love about The University of Auckland's Dance Studies Programme is that I am challenged intellectually as well as physically. I'm not just learning how to dance but I'm learning about dance as well.

“The lecturers here always push us to achieve the best we can in a fun, creative environment. I really enjoy the different situations we get to encounter, from technique classes to dance in the community. I can see changes in my thinking already when I teach and choreograph dance.

“My plans for the future have changed since I started studying here; I've been introduced to different areas of dance I didn't know existed. I now want to teach dance in schools or start a dance centre for children and youth where I can incorporate all that I have learnt here, and share my love of movement.”

Caitlin Williams is currently studying for a Bachelor of Dance Studies (BDanceSt).
 

Pauline Hiroti

“Dance has been an important part of my life. I always believed that if I was going to study towards a degree, I would study something that I'm passionate about pursuing as a career. At this stage I am considering a career in community dance as I love the way dance can be used as a medium to inspire, educate, and impact people’s lives for the better.

“I chose to study at The University of Auckland in particular as you are not only challenged in the practical papers, but also in the academic subjects related to dance. This has helped me to develop a vast range of knowledge and has created opportunities for many different career paths following my studies”.

Pauline Hiroti is currently studying for a Bachelor of Dance Studies (BDanceSt).
 

Seidah Karati

“Dance allows me to express myself creatively without boundaries or limitations. I chose to study at The University of Auckland because the dance degree offers a holistic approach to dance. Aspects of performance, technique, dance history, education, kinesiology and much more are addressed in this degree to a substantial level.

Working relationships between students and lecturers are very helpful, creating a hardworking but fun environment to learn in. This degree has definitely given me a worldly approach to dance and taught me how it can be enjoyed within my community.”
 
Seidah is currently in her third year of study.
 

Andrew Cessan

“I have a huge passion for dance and I cannot even imagine what my life would be like without it. My older brother Richard has just finished the same course and I heard lots of great and exciting things about it from both him and his friends. He got the opportunity to travel abroad twice during his time at uni which is definitely an opportunity I would love to have.   Already I am learning about dance education and it has greatly changed how I teach.

So far meeting new people who share a similar passion to me has been the best part. I can't wait to grow as performer and choreographer with the people in my year as we all get along really well.”

Andrew is currently in his third year of study.

 

Jason Kim

“The Dance Studies programme teaches us to excel in many aspects of dance, but there is still room for creativity and personal achievement. I enjoy every part of the programme but what I am really pleased about is the close relationship that I have with my lecturers and fellow students.

“I have developed essential techniques in choreography and how to teach dance professionally, gained a better understanding of my body and movement, learnt about dance different cultures and their history, as well as leadership, showmanship, self-esteem, balanced mind and much more. Every day there is something for me to learn and achieve.”

Jason is currently in his third year of study.

Renee Ball

"I chose to study Dance at The University of Auckland because not only is dance one of my greatest passions, it is also a subject that gives me the freedom to express myself, be creative, think, plan, and challenge myself.

“I have never become bored with learning and practising dance. This programme suits me entirely as it has a great balance of practical and theoretical learning. I also love the focus on choreography, culture and dance education. The staff in the Dance Studies Programme are amazing, encouraging, knowledgeable people, and all the dance students are a tight group already, which is great as well."

Renee is currently in her third year of study.

Kat Walker

"I chose to further my study of dance in order to become an expert in my field. Postgraduate study has allowed me to become a dance specialist, as well as concentrate on my dance company 'Hopskotch' at the same time.

The University of Auckland has given me many opportunities to explore dance in the community and also internationally, with a trip to Hong Kong and a scholarship that allowed me to study hip hop in China."

Kat Walker is currently studying for a Master of Creative and Performing Arts (MCPA) – Dance Studies.

Sachiko Miller

After graduating from The University of Auckland, Sachiko went home to Fiji and worked for a year at the Oceania Centre at the University of the South Pacific, where she organised Fiji's first dance festival. In 2007 founded VOU ("new" in Fijian), a powerful and vibrant Pacific dance experience rich in ancient stories, tradition and culture.

 Sachiko has performed, composed and choreographed major works in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia. She is also the president of the Fiji chapter of the World Dance Alliance.

Hiromi Sakamoto

“I come from Japan where I have worked as a producer and director in the performing arts and television industry. It was not too easy for me to find a suitable institution where I could pursue my doctoral research because usually you are expected to be a dancer belonging to a dance department, or to be a dance teacher in an education department. However NICAI encourages you to be connected to the arts industry as a whole and I felt comfortable coming here.

“My interests have always been in arts and education, but more specifically, in the roles of professional arts for the education of the public in multicultural and democratic societies. Auckland is a decent-sized, multicultural city where I can explore my philosophical quest, meet interesting people and work closely with groups for case studies.

“I have only been here a short time and I am still in the stage of finishing up my research proposal, but my supervisors have been quite helpful. I have met some extraordinary people from the dance industries who stimulate my thinking. And, yes, studying and performing the Haka was one of the greatest experiences of my life!”

Hiromi Sakamoto is currently studying for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Dance Studies.

Rosemary Martin

“When I retired from the Royal New Zealand Ballet, I knew that I still wanted to work with dancers, think about dance and be in a dance environment. As part of the Dance Studies Programme at The University of Auckland I have the opportunity to use my practical professional experience and knowledge and combine it with academic theory and understanding of dance.

“My research interests are focused around dancers’ health, ballet scholarship and cultural theory. My master’s research involved an investigation of attitudes surrounding female ballet dancers having to dance in pain. I had the chance to conduct a pilot study of this research over the summer of 2008-9 with a NICAI Summer Research Scholarship.

“I also continued performing, working closely with Dr Carol Brown, and in April 2008 I performed ‘The 19th Step’, a collaborative project between musicians, dancers, visual artists and a mathematician at the University of Roehampton in London.”

Rosemary Martin is currently studying for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Dance Studies.

David Zeitner-Smith

“The diversity of dance as an art form is fascinating and challenging. The beauty of dance is that it is a language, a form of communication that everybody can practise and understand regardless of their heritage, ethnicity or social stance.

“Having had a fulfilling career as professional dancer, I aspire to pass my knowledge and experience to future dance professionals. The Dance Studies programme at the University of Auckland enables me to supplement my practical experience with academia. I  have experienced ongoing support for my studies at The University of Auckland.”

David Zeitner-Smith is currently studying for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Dance Studies.
 

Juanita Jelleyman

"I chose to study Dance at a postgraduate level at The University of Auckland because I wanted to build on the great experience I had as an undergraduate student in the Programme.  The staff are experts in their fields and are supportive; two things you definitely need in postgraduate study.  Dance Studies at The University of Auckland holds theory and practice in balance, providing students with skills that equip them for a huge range of professions in the dance field.  The postgraduate programmes have provided me with opportunities to extend my skills in research, choreograph, lecture and perform; opportunities which have challenged and stretched me in exciting ways.  With these opportunities I have grown in confidence as a dance artist.  I am now looking forward to taking up artistic residencies across the world and choreographing a whole lot more."

Juanita  Jelleyman has recently completed a Master of Creative and Performing Arts (MCPA) – Dance Studies.