Choreographer and dancer Chloe Loftus has moved into her new outdoor studio at Long Bay Regional Park as part of the annual Auckland Council Regional Parks Artist in Residence programme.
For the next eight weeks, Chloe will be immersed within the park 24/7 to choreograph a parks-inspired performance using her signature gravity defying, bungee-assisted movement.
The performance will be showcased to the public at the end of Chloe’s residency on Saturday 9 December at 6pm and Sunday 10 December at midday in front of the Vaughan Homestead.
Here’s a little taster of what’s to come:
Chloe performing as part of the National Dance Company residency in Wales.
Unique and experienced
Chloe is the first choreographer to be selected for the residency, which began in 2008. She is known for taking dance out of the theatre and into the streets and to outdoor public spaces.
Councillor Alf Filipaina, Deputy Chair of Auckland Council’s Environment and Community Committee says Chloe’s experience and original performance style saw her selected for this year’s residency.
“Chloe’s style of dance is unique and requires a great deal of strength and technique to pull off,” he says.
“Long Bay Regional Park is an Auckland gem and will provide plenty of creative inspiration for Chloe. I think park visitors will enjoy seeing Chloe work within the park over the next two months.”
Chloe, who has worked as a professional choreographer and dancer around the world, says her residency performance will be inspired by the rhythms, sights and sounds of the park.
“I want to observe the park in all its conditions and the ways in which park visitors interact with nature. I will be echoing these patterns and movements within my performance. I look forward to getting started.”
Promoting our parks
Regional Parks Manager Rachel Kelleher says the residency helps to promote the diversity of Auckland’s beautiful parks.
“The objective of the residency is for the selected artist to create new content that is influenced in some way by the park or residency experience.
“The work is then shared with the public – this might be through an exhibition, performance, publication or a permanent feature within the park – with the aim of getting people to see our parks in different ways.
“So the public are very much at the heart of this residency programme.”
Visit to find out more about Auckland Council’s Regional Parks Artist in Residence programme.
