The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) has announces its most provocative and poetic national tour yet, The Absurdity of Humanity to be presented this September in New Plymouth at the Taranaki Arts Festival,Marlborough, the Christchurch Arts Festival and in Wellington for strictly limited performances.

Artistic Director Shona McCullagh couples the striking works of choreographers Ross McCormack (Matter) and Lina Limosani (Whispers from Pandora’s Box) to form a powerful trans-Tasman double bill, presented to critical acclaim in Auckland in 2016.

Matter by Ross McCormack (Creative New Zealand’s 2015 Choreographic Fellow) is “…a total triumph of collaboration, light,sound, and ultimately…vision” Paul Young (DANZ). With set and choreography by McCormack, one of New Zealand’s finest and internationally acclaimed dance artists, the work features a surreal world of poles, appearing as spear-like plinths forcing the space apart. Created with an absurdist eye for detail, McCormack says “I am fascinated with how humans can bestow this importance and have almost cathartic experiences with seemingly benign objects”. In this highly anticipated theatrical work with a score by Jason Wright, questions of purpose, indecision, and environment are contemplated in a startling and powerful dystopian world.

Whispers from Pandora’s Box by Australia’s Lina Limosani (2015 Dame Peggy van Pragh Choreographic Award recipient) is a theatrical exposition on the dichotomy of good and evil within human nature. With a score created from mashed up film soundtracks and absurdist scores, this black comedy contains Elizabethan-period inspired costumes, David Lynch style elements, and shockingly timed fight sequences. It promises to present both the macabre and humorous. Kill Bill meets Elizabeth I in this romp of surreal and action-packed pandemonium.

The Absurdity of Humanityshowcases the talented NZDCdancers; Lucy Lynch, Carl Tolentino, Chrissy Kokiri, Emily Adams, Katie Rudd, Xin Ji and Breanna Timms.

The Absurdity of Humanity – National Tour dates:

TARANAKI ARTS FESTIVALTSB SHOWPLACESUNDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 6:00PM

MARLBOROUGHASB THEATRESATURDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM

CHRISTCHURCH ARTS FESTIVALAURORA CENTREFRIDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM

WELLINGTON THE OPERA HOUSEWEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM

Tickets to all performances available through www.Ticketek.co.nz