National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries
Dance Studies research
In the Dance Studies Programme, the research environment supports local and international work and plays a significant role in artistic, cultural, educational and community environments. Our research covers a variety of disciplinary fields, with many staff incorporating practice as a research methodology.
Dr Carol Brown
Dance Studies staff include practitioners with international profiles and strong connections within the creative industries.
Dr Carol Brown is an award-winning choreographer and artistic director renowned internationally for her collaborative performances. Current projects include Tongues of Stone, a multi-site event for the city of Perth, and Rhythms of a Lost Malady for Touch Compass Dance Company (NZ).
Award-winning choreographer Nicholas Rowe has worked with numerous ballet and dance companies in New Zealand and overseas. His research is focused on the choreographic voice of marginalised and traumatised communities.
Pei-Jung Lee has presented her works in the US and Taiwan. She was one of the resident choreographers in Young Asian Choreographer Projects 2007, Taiwan.
A new project initiated in 2010 is the Choreographic Research Initiative (CRI), a platform for scholars and dance-makers from all over the world to collaborate and experiment.
Josh Mitukulena, a postgraduate student in the Dance Studies Programme, who contributed to Our Dance Stories through his work in Tongan, New Caledonian and Niuean communities
The changing role of dance in local communities around the globe is a strong focus for several staff.
Our Dance Stories is a major research project initiated by Associate Professor Ralph Buck and Dr Nicholas Rowe to build an archive of oral dance histories from the Pacific, Asia and the Mediterranean, and prepare them for publication in a series of illustrated books. This ethnographic research will provide fresh insights into local and indigenous communities around the world, as well as topical socio-political and cultural issues. The project has already gained international recognition from UNESCO, the University of Quebec at Montreal and the Korean Arts and Culture Education Services.
Nicholas Rowe has also worked with indigenous and refugee communities in Palestine, and has recently published the book Raising dust: a history of dance and social change in Palestine.
Ralph Buck has co-authored articles on experiential learning, taking the studio to the people and negotiating diversity in community dance.
View The Healing Art of Dance in our Communities
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Dr Nicholas Rowe
Dance Studies staff play a major role in dance education research, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Ralph Buck has conducted research into curriculum development, pedagogy and dance in schools. Recent publications are focused on the teaching of dance, contemporary dance technique and dance stories.
Nicholas Rowe's investigation into the role of dance education in traumatised countries was selected by Research in Dance Education as one of the top ten articles of the last decade.
The impact of digital media and the cross-pollination of ideas through artistic collaboration provide rich research opportunities for many staff.
Mark Harvey has presented performance research that traverses visual arts and choreography in Europe, America, Australia and Asia, with such works as Tony and His Mirror shown at Trans in Madison, Wisconsin, 2006.
Alys Longley's recent interdisciplinary choreographies include Kinesthetic Archive (TAPAC, NZ 2006); Camper (Tempo Dance Festival 2007); and Suture (Maidment Theatre, NZ 2006). She is currently working on an installation/performance project called "Corporeal Translations" using writing, mark-making and experimental documentation strategies in ways that generate and extend dance concepts.
