NEW ZEALAND DANCE FESTIVAL TRUST

Image: Asher Milgate | 2024 Festival Blessing with Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei:

The New Zealand Dance Festival Trust (NZDFT) is a charitable trust established in 2000 to support and champion the development of
dance in Aotearoa.

About NZDFT

Through its projects, platforms, and partnerships, NZDFT exists to uplift the visibility, value, and sustainability of dance as a vital part of our cultural fabric.

We are committed to:

  • Supporting diverse forms of dance practice across all cultures and communities.

  • Enhancing sector capacity through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and professional development.

  • Amplifying the voices of artists and communities through platforms that foster connection, equity, and creative leadership.

Our kaupapa is guided by a deep respect for whakapapa, mana motuhake, and the transformative potential of movement. The Trust weaves together leadership, innovation, and care — holding space for artists, audiences, and future-facing visions of what dance can be.

TEMPO DANCE FESTIVAL

Tempo Dance Festival is the flagship platform of the New Zealand Dance Festival Trust — a vibrant, future-facing celebration of movement, story, and artistic expression.

Since its founding, Tempo has uplifted the creative voices of Aotearoa’s dance artists, nurturing bold choreography, intergenerational exchange, and culturally rich narratives that speak to who we are — and who we are becoming.

Each iteration of the festival brings together established artists, emerging talent, and diverse communities in a powerful expression of whakapapa, identity, and innovation. From contemporary and Indigenous practices to experimental and cross-disciplinary works, Tempo is a gathering ground for dance that moves beyond genre — dance that speaks, disrupts, heals, and transforms.

Tempo continues to grow as a platform that fosters connection, champions artistic risk, and creates space for critical conversations in Aotearoa’s cultural landscape.

Videography: Highlights from 2024 Festival  Opening Night

DANCE FUTURES INITIATIVE

The Dance Futures Initiative is a transformational new direction currently in development under NZDFT. Informed by sector research and urgent structural challenges, DFI is being established to future-proof dance in Aotearoa beyond 2027.

Image: Freshmans Crew