2007

In her introduction to the 2007 Tempo calendar of events, Artistic Director Mary Jane O’Reilly stated that Tempo had become a ‘multi-layered Auckland event... [featuring] some of New Zealand and the world’s most delightful dance forms... during the month of October, everywhere you turn there will be some form of dance for you to see or take part in.’ It is obvious that Tempo 2007 expanded on the past offerings, both in the volume and variety of dance, also increasing the length of the festival, from September 25th to October 28th, taking place in sixteen venues in Tamaki Makaurau. In 2007 the management of the festival also expanded with Frances Turner joining Tempo as General Manager.

Events such as the showcase series, including World Dance, Hip-Hop, and Choreographic proved popular once again, and gaining their own evenings of performances with new works were students from the teritary dance programmes at Unitec, the University of Auckland and AUT. Companies, including Footnote, Company Z, Atamira Dance Collective, and Touch Compass, who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary, performed at the Sky City Theatre, TAPAC, Town Hall Concert Chamber and Maidment Theatre respectively. Two major features of the festival were the inclusion of Corporacion Tango, from Buenos Aires, who appeared at the Sky City Theatre for two nights and The Royal New Zealand Ballet who gave their Auckland performances of Cinderella at the Aotea Centre under the umbrella of Tempo.

The 2007 festival also featured several culturally-based events, including the NZ Salsa Congress, a Bollywood dance competition, a Kapa Haka competition (Te Ahurea Rangatiratanga) and Glimpsing China by Chinasty. Youth dance was represented by Pointy Dog Dance Company directed by Felicity Molloy with choreography from Katie Burton, a Schools Show with works from students in years 7-13, and programmes of short works from Mt Eden Ballet Academy and Enhance Dance.

Branching out of the theatre and into a campervan in front of TAPAC, Alys Longly and Valerie Smith offered their site-specific work Camper. In small groups, audience members were invited into the especially decorated campervan to join Alys and Val in a unique experience of choreographies ‘based on cupcake making, argument devising, anatomical calendars & claustrophobic existence.’ The Hootchy Kootchy Girls Burlesque provided ‘burlesque and campy comedy’ at the Classic on Queen St, while Gandalf Archer offered a free Body JAM fitness class outdoors in Aotea Square.