Oli Mathiesen Photo: Supplied
Demi-Jo Sefo Photo: Supplied
A new show by dance group Company B is giving emerging choreographers a creative platform, and mentoring and training 10 young dancers.
The Next Wave, at the Herald Theatre from 18 to 22 September involves dancers from diverse backgrounds with varying degrees of experience who’ve participated in a four-week intensive rehearsal period.
Among the choreographers are Oli Mathiesen and Demi-Jo Sefo.
Mathiesen, (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Manu, Ngāpuhi) is an alumni of Black Grace Dance Company’s Company B initiative. He’s worked with international and top national companies including Atamira Dance Company and The New Zealand Dance Company. This year, he’s been touring his acclaimed show The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave and hopes to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year.
Sefo graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2015. Originally from Australia she is of Filipino and Malaysian heritage. She made her professional debut touring with Black Grace to France and the Netherlands in 2016. She’s now a permanent dancer with Black Grace, touring with the company around the world.
For these two dancers, their approach and reasons for becoming a choreographer have been very different.
Oli Mathieson says he often choreographs the way he loves to dance, and sees it as an opportunity to create commentary. He’s also been eager to craft a full production and express his voice through the medium of other dancers.
Meanwhile, Demi-Jo Sefo had been strongly committed to being a dancer and wasn’t sure about becoming a choreographer. Encouraged by Black Grace founder Neil Ieremia to “give it a go” - she’s found the experience eye-opening and enjoys focusing on the technical aspects of choreographing.
Culture 101 spoke to Mathieson and Sefo about taking on their roles as choreographers for The Next Wave and the attitude towards contemporary dance in Aotearoa.
