Dancers reunite for duet piece
Dancing may be one of the only constants in Eddie Elliott’s life.
The 23-year-old has been dancing since he was a child living in Wellington, continuing with his passion when he moved to Manurewa as a teenager.
It was always through movement he was able to convey his anger, he says, taking his frustrations out through dance. Now he’s hoping to inspire other young people to pursue dance careers.
He’s choreographing a dance piece, Intuition, which will be presented as part of the closing night for the Auckland Pride Festival Aroha ‘17 Festival of Ideas at Mangere Arts Centre.
‘‘It [dance] was the only way I feel I could get over problems I was going through when I was young,’’ Elliott says.
‘‘I want to give back to people and influence people in similar situations as me and let them know that dancing is a way to communicate anger, stress, and tension.’’
Elliott graduated from Unitec with a dance degree in 2013 and has worked with New Zealand Dance Company and Atamira Dance Company.
He is choreographing Intuition with fellow dancer Kosta Bogoievski, whom he met as a child in Wellington and since reunited with nearly 10 years later.
They’re using their backgrounds as the foundation for the piece, letting their gut feelings direct them rather than set their movements ahead of time.
‘‘We’re both emerging artists and to make something together is a proud moment,’’ Elliott says.
‘‘I love the fact that I get to dance and choreograph with my friend who I started dancing with when I was little and we still have this bond after nine years.’’
Elliott hopes his family and friends enjoy it, some of whom have never seen him dance before.
‘‘I’m excited and nervous because this work is going to portray what I am and what I do.
‘‘This work is quite heavy and I believe it’s going to shock some people - but I want that.
‘‘My friends are excited to see it but who I am and what I do as a dancer is quite abstract … so it might be a cultural shock.’’
Intuition is on February 24 at 7pm at Mangere Arts Centre. Go to iticket.co.nz/events/2017/feb/ aroha17-intuition