The new centre will be the first of its kind in Aotearoa with purpose-built spaces for dance, circus, acrobatics and beyond under one roof. MOVE will be a hub for all kinds of artistic movement; offering classes that welcome all ages, experience levels, and access needs, plus plenty of opportunities for movement professionals.
Building on our city’s vision
Recent years have been all about building foundations through circus workshops, Speed Dancing events, partnerships, and programmes reflecting the diversity of practices across our city. After more than a decade spent envisioning and creating a space for everyone in Ōtautahi to move, learn, and connect – it’s finally happening!
The new centre will be the first of its kind in Aotearoa, with purpose-built spaces for dance, circus, acrobatics and beyond under one roof. MOVE will be a hub for all kinds of artistic movement; offering classes that welcome all ages, experience, abilities and access needs, plus plenty of opportunities for artistic movement professionals.
A space designed for movement
The MOVE facility features three purpose-built studios, kitted out with professional equipment for community to use in classes, courses, workshops and residencies. All studios are fully accessible and designed to accommodate diverse bodies, abilities, and disciplines. Studio 1 is designed for dance, Studio 2 for circus, and Studio 3 for acrobatics. Each also accommodates a wide range of practices; from mau rākau to line dancing, contemporary dance to capoeira, and circus classes for toddlers through to older adults.
Before moving in: what we’ve been up to
In the year leading up to the opening of Parakiore, MOVE has been working on bringing artistic movement to all corners of Ōtautahi: from encouraging participation through our Speed Dancing evenings, to supporting circus residencies, training courses and workshops for professional artists.
These collaborations have been instrumental in bringing together the dance and circus communities in Ōtautahi – to be continued in the MOVE studios!
The countdown begins
MOVE’s taster classes will begin January 2025. These summer classes let you explore the space, meet our team, and try something new before our full programme kicks off in February 2026. The anticipation is real! We can’t wait to welcome you in, share what we’ve been crafting, and start moving together in our very own home. Keep an eye out on our platforms – taster class bookings opening soon.
