Earthdance, Auckland

Earthdance New Zealand Auckland

Earthdance NZ started 3 years ago when a NZ DJ was invited by a friend, Ashera from Earthdance headquarters in England to play a special song on a particular night at lake Taupo as part of a global dance event. This was duly done, and so Earthdance NZ was born.

Earthdance is the brainchild of Australian born musician Chris Deckker, a founder of the well known British trance organisation Return to the Source, and a member of UK band Medicine Drum. He believed that it was time to use the dance music industry as a forum for global issues , initially supporting the plight of Tibetan refugees and increasing awareness to the Tibet issue. Since then the event has grown globally, each year more promoters joining the Earthdance family. This year promoters are also being encouraged to address other global and local issues, regarding environment, children, indigenous tribes and to bring about an awareness of these issues in those who attend.

Earthdance is essentially a networking project. It unites a coalition of promoters across the world who believe strongly in peace and the future of our planet and giving them an opportunity to educate people within the forum of a music and dance event. The aim is to inspire as many promoters as possible internationally to join together as one global dancefloor, using modern technology to link the people of the world in real time. This is a truly unique concept that allows an unlimited number of people to participate whether it is in person or via the internet. In addition, Earthdance NZ north will be filmed to collect footage for the upcoming Earthdance movie documentary. What has been described in the industry as "the Live Aid of dance culture" - Earthdance 2000 will once again show the world the positive power of the united global dance community.

Lunar-Essence (formally Zuvuya) first became involved in Earthdance 2 years ago when invited to organise an event in NZ , with only 3 weeks notice! Who could refuse such a challenge? Although it was a small event with 150 people attending, the tickets sold out and the enthusiasm and support was overwhelming. Last year saw Zuvuya acting as environmental technician at Earthdance Vienna, Austria. Earthdance NZ was organised by a south island group and held in Takaka. This year, events will take place on 14th October in both Takaka and Auckland, and Zuvuya will again be promoting the Auckland event. The New Zealand locations are of particular significance since we will be the first to start and broadcast.

This year, we will be supporting 2 charities: The Tadra Project (who house homeless children in Tibet) and Native Forest Action. Unlike any dance event that has occurred in New Zealand previously, this event will not only feature top quality dance music (from international and local DJs and live acts) and light shows. It will entertain guests with performance acts (such as Zuvuya's choreographed dancers and stiltwalk shows), large-scale artwork and sculpture and a multi dimensional slide show by upcoming graphic artist, Hinge. All this will take place in a themed environment unlike anything yet seen at New Zealand dance events. We intend to provide an evening of both intellectual and sensory stimulation.

Event details: Saturday 14th October at The Mandalay, Newmarket. Starts at 10pm. Live Acts: Antix (Plastic Park Records, Germany), live drumming: Issac. Djs: Carlos (Holland), Alchemist, Phully, Dijit. Decor by Lunar-Essence, Visuals by Hinge. Performance, Internet Link Up, Info stalls. Tickets and Information: Cyberculture, www.earthdance.pl.net or call 09 837 0773.

Earthdance 2000: United as One We Dance