NATIONAL DANCE ARCHIVE OF NEW ZEALAND
NGA KAITIAKI TAONGA KANIKANI O AOTEAROA
 
Report from the Chair
20 June 2024
 
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to give a webinar for the Archives and Records Association of New Zealand (ARANZ) on the importance of archiving dance. The response I got from several attendees, many who hadn’t thought much past a dance archive as being lots of video recordings, brought home to me the importance of the National Dance Archive and the advocacy role that we play.
 
As trustees, we are thinking regularly about both the importance of archiving and the variety of material a dance archive could hold, so it is always good to be reminded of how much advocacy is still to be done. Preparing for the webinar was also an opportunity for me to look through the NDA’s own records in the Turnbull Library, and those of the New Zealand Dance Federation, under which the NDA was first formed, to see the significant work that has been done since the NDA was formed in 1982.
 
Trustees and Meetings
Our trustees have remained constant for another year: Geordan Wilcox in Auckland, Philippa Pidgeon in Christchurch, and the rest of the trustees based in Wellington – Peter Boyes, Kim Crawford, Debra Harris, Katherine Lancaster, Brigitte Knight, Keith McEwing and Sue Nicholls. Change is in the air, however, with Geordan stepping down. Another significant departure is our founding treasurer Carolyn McKeefry has also decided to step down. We will miss you both.
 
With the exception of our December meeting, all of our meetings have been by Zoom; a biproduct of those COVID lockdown days. This has on the whole, worked well and given us some extra flexibility regarding our meeting attendance. For December we had a hybrid meeting. Sue hosted the meeting at her place, with Geordan joining via Zoom. After the meeting, for those attending in person, we had a shared meal. Thank you to Sue, again, for your hospitality.
 
Oral Histories Subcommittee
Three people for our next oral history project have been selected, which will illustrate the diversity of dance in New Zealand. Much of this project will be paid for from our fundraising efforts of the last two years’ film nights and donations that ensued. Preliminary consultation with Turnbull Library, with regards to whether they would accept this project as a donation on completion, has held up the process of starting the project, however. 
 
Technology Subcommittee 
Again, we thank Brigitte for her work with the website and the Facebook page. Some posts have been made throughout the year on both website and Facebook and a moderate following has resulted. Further discussions have been had about using both platforms more, so watch these spaces!
 
Archiving Resources Subcommittee
With promoting the necessity to archive dance records this subcommittee gives opportunity to practise what we preach! Some work has been done at looking at our paper files and deciding what needs to be kept. An archiving plan has been discussed along with an organised filing structure. Another project to work on in the coming year.
 
Sponsorship and Funding Subcommittee
With the success of 2022’s film fund raiser we decided to have another in October 2023. We screened the French movie En Corps and approached Alliance Française, and the French Ambassador to New Zealand for their support and for spreading the word of this event. With a near capacity audience of 56 people attending, we raised $504.  
 
NDA also received a donation for $1,000 from 3+ Consulting. As well, we continue to sell cards through the National Library shop, which keeps a small but steady amount coming into our bank account.
 
The Year Ahead
I have already mentioned the oral history project that is underway. I have also talked about ideas for using the social media more and organising our own archives. It will be great to keep a momentum on all of these things into the next twelve months.
 
Conclusion
I cannot overstress my sincere thanks to all the trustees for the time you have volunteered in serving on the NDA committee this past twelve months. A special thank you to Geordan for your contribution to the committee over the past four years, and we wish you the best going forward. Thank you also to Sue in the secretarial role. Always prompt with getting the minutes to me.
 
An extra big thank you to our Treasurer, Carolyn McKeefry, this being the last time we will be able to do so formally with you stepping down. Not only our thanks for continuing to manage our accounts throughout the past year and all the years prior, making sure we keep our balance above $5,000 to avoid bank fees, but more so, thank you for your investment expertise management with our funds raised. Thank you also for the general support you have given to the committee and the archiving cause.
 
Last year I closed my report with a whakatauki. This year I would like to repeat it as for me it sums up our purpose so well. Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua; I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past. Thank you all.
 
 
 
Keith McEwing
Chair
18 June 2024
 

Sir Jon Trimmer, September 2019
​Photographer: Brigitte Knight