Creative Industries in the Waikato
 
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Performing Arts

The performing arts in the region are based mostly around the venues, a larger number of which are located in Hamilton. There are numerous support services which are important to the industry, including acting and theatre societies.
  • Venues are the cornerstone of performance within the region, most larger venues are concentrated in Hamilton and most of these are administered by the city council. The Westpac Trust Community Theatre, Riverlea Art & Theatre Centre, Founders Memorial Theatre, Meteor Theatre the most well known venues within the region. The WEL Trust Academy of Performing Arts located at the university is another facility whose primary function is to service that institution, but also to develop and create opportunities within the community.
  • Support services in the region are not very numerous and most of the work gained by support agencies is the result of word of mouth or long standing contracts. There are many different support services needed to create a performance, lighting and sound being two obvious examples.
There are a number of performing groups in the region these are sometimes professional although these will usually include a number of volunteers and amateurs as well. It is rare to see a venue that does not have some form of act in residence, although not all performances will be by acts that are based in the region or using original material. Some of the better established groups in the region have become linked with various organisations and venues within the region. For example, the Hamilton Operatic Society maintains its office from the Westpac Trust Theatre.

The performing arts in the Waikato is not a volatile industry although there are always problems with not enough funding, lack of attendance and lack of venues being the most common. There are many strengths however, strong links between local government and the arts community being one of the most important.
 
 



Adena Stage Lighting
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Applied Theatre
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Christine Simmons Dance Studio
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Footwork Dancesport Studio
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Founders Memorial Theatre
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Grapevine Line Dancing
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Hamilton Operatic Society
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LDPS NZ Ltd
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Meteor Theatre
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Riverlea Theatre & Art Centre
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Slip of the Tongue
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Stronglite Portable Staging
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Te Awamutu School of Dance
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Wel Energy Trust Academy Of Performing Arts
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WestpacTrust Community Theatre
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Cambridge Repertory Society

Dallas' Dance School

Dance Effects

Diane Willcox School Of Dance

Directions School of Dance

Drury Lane Dance Studio

Dynamix Dance School

Fiona's Jazz Dance Studio

FreeLunch

Harbottles Studio of Dancing

Jazz Unlimited

Judith Ward School of Dance

Just Jazz School of Dance

Margaret Fairhead School of Dance

Stepping Out Dance Studio

Studio Active School of Dance

Taumarunui Little Theatre

Thames Hauraki Ballet Theatre

Thames Little Theatre

Theatre Services

Valerie Lissette School of Dance

Virginia Davey Dance Studio

Waihi School of Dance

Waikato Dance Academy

Williamson Stage Lighting


 
 
 
 
  Commissioned by Wintec Creative Industries Research Centre
To correct or add information to this page, please contact creativeindustries@wintec.ac.nz