Aotearoa New Zealand
Dance can
move the world.
Dance can shape Aotearoa New Zealand – growing young minds, bridging cultures, and uplifting our dance community.
Bridging gaps
We began our pilot programme at the end of the COVID-19 lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020. Guided by the belief that dance is a powerful tool for learning, growth, and development, we set out to create meaningful programmes and to make dance and dance education accessible to children of all ages and backgrounds.
Dance Can Do NZ believes dance can bridge gaps. Through workshops and performances, we invite the sharing of styles, stories, and traditions from across cultures and identities.
We are proud to support the dance community of Aotearoa New Zealand – locally and globally – by gathering and sharing the voices, movements, and moments that shape our dance landscape.
Past & Current Programmes
Kahurangi School Programmes
(Years 4 – 5)
The Dance Can Do NZ pilot programme began at Kahurangi School in 2020 with fourteen Year 4 students. In 2021, we continued working with the same group as they moved into Year 5, building on the strong foundations established in the first year.
Porirua Programme
Partnering with Black Grace Dance Company we ran workshops at a school in Porirua that was opened to any children in the area. The children had the opportunity to perform alongside Black Grace dancers for a short end of workshop performance.
Auckland Programme
Since piloting its programmes in Wellington, Dance Can Do NZ relocated to Auckland in 2025 and has since delivered 18 free workshops to low-equity primary, intermediate, and secondary schools across the city.
These workshops were made possible through a partnership. with Black Grace, New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance company. This collaboration continues to bring valuable programmes to local communities.
Follow @whatdancecando_nz on instagram to stay up to date with our programmes.
Our Aotearoa New Zealand Team
Aurélia Sellier
Founder and President
Neil Ieremia, ONZM
Founding Artistic Director, Black Grace
James Wasmer
Operations Manager, Black Grace
