04.07.2024
Meet Sarah Foster-Sproull
Choreographer in Residence Sarah Foster-Sproull is an internationally-renowned choreographer with a close and ongoing relationship with the RNZB.
Sarah is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland – Dance Studies with a research focus on choreography and creative practice. Sarah holds a PhD (2023) from the University of Auckland in Feminist choreographic practice.
Her choreographic research traverses large scale works for up to 100 performers, to intimate performances involving one or two dancers. In 2020-2021 and 2023 Sarah is a Resident Fellow of the Centre for Ballet and the Arts at New York University, utilising contemporary choreographic practice to research pas de deux and quantum entanglement.
Sarah was appointed Choreographer in Residence with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2020.
To Hold is Sarah’s fifth creation for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, forming one of three works that makes Solace; dance to feed your soul. Solace is performing in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch from 1–17 August 2024.
Sarah's past works for the RNZB
Sarah began her choreographic association with the Royal New Zealand Ballet with Despite The Loss Of Small Detail, one of a quartet of new works by international women choreographers commissioned by former RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker for the 2018 Strength & Grace programme, commemorating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.
In 2019 she created Artemis Rising for the RNZB’s Choreographic Series, in honour of retiring RNZB Principal Abigail Boyle. Artemis Rising was revived in 2020 as part of the RNZB’s Tutus on Tour.
Sarah created a two new works for the RNZB as part of the Venus Rising programme, sharing the stage with works by Twyla Tharp, Alice Topp, Andrea Schermoly and George Balanchine. Her first piece, Ultra Folly featured in the first iteration of the programme, with The Autumn Ball being her second choreography for the 2022 season.
» This is what I love about the contemporary swing on things - it’s about really connecting with your own voice and bringing things through that might not be possible through a more traditionally classical form. I find it infinitely interesting. «
Sarah Foster-Sproull
» The piece is called To Hold, and I'm thinking about the ways in which people are in proximity to each other. Tender, clear, strong intention, but also, in times of care, nuanced times of care for a person. That's an overarching sort of theme. «
Sarah Foster-Sproull
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