Education and classes
Mātauranga
Our disability-led classes, programmes and workshops are for individuals, schools and businesses throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Our tutors are world-class and we ensure a welcoming and supportive environment where participants can be who they are and express themselves in a safe, supported and creative way at all ages.
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The words "Tuesday Creative Class with Lish and Julie" appear in dusky pink text against a soft brown background. Pictured alongside the words are Alisha McLennan Marler and Julie van Renen; the lead tutors for the class programme. Lish is seen reaching for imaginary stars above her as she performs in her wheelchair, and Julie is seen in a delicate reaching pose leaning every so gracefully to her right. Their movements convey creativity and dance.
The words "Tuesday Creative Class with Lish and Julie" appear in dusky pink text against a soft brown background. Pictured alongside the words are Alisha McLennan Marler and Julie van Renen; the lead tutors for the class programme. Lish is seen reaching for imaginary stars above her as she performs in her wheelchair, and Julie is seen in a delicate reaching pose leaning every so gracefully to her right. Their movements convey creativity and dance.
Creative Class
Akomanga Auaha
Venue: Grey Lynn Community Centre
No cost: Funded by Aktive
Time: Tuesdays 4.30pm – 6.00pm (check calendar for dates)
Tell me moreThe Touch Compass Creative Class is taught by two experienced and engaging dance and movement teachers, Alisha McLennan Marler and Julie van Renen.
Alisha has been a Certified DanceAbility teacher since 2018 and employs this method of teaching in her dance instruction. Julie has performed in arts and music festivals both nationally and internationally, starring in various films and music videos, including Kezia Barnett’s award winning experimental dance film ‘Nurse Me’.
Join Creative Class
Uru atu ki te karaehe auaha
The words SATURDAY CONTEMPORARY CLASS appear in dusky pink against a soft brown background. Two fun and engaging images of class members during a class showing, and a public performance, are seen to the left and right of the words. In both images the class members are having fun performing, arms outstretched, some standing, sitting in wheelchairs, or on the ground and in a variety of contemporary dance poses. Below and to the left, Sue Cheeseman the lead tutor for this class programme, in seen in an exciting image of her in a floral short sleeve top, with a borad open smile, sparling eyes and blonde dyed hair. All the images convey fun, belonging, and togetherness. A hallmark of this long-running Saturday class programme.
The words SATURDAY CONTEMPORARY CLASS appear in dusky pink against a soft brown background. Two fun and engaging images of class members during a class showing, and a public performance, are seen to the left and right of the words. In both images the class members are having fun performing, arms outstretched, some standing, sitting in wheelchairs, or on the ground and in a variety of contemporary dance poses. Below and to the left, Sue Cheeseman the lead tutor for this class programme, in seen in an exciting image of her in a floral short sleeve top, with a borad open smile, sparling eyes and blonde dyed hair. All the images convey fun, belonging, and togetherness. A hallmark of this long-running Saturday class programme.
Contemporary Class
Akomanga o enei wa
Venue: Grey Lynn Community Centre
No cost - Funded by Aktive
Time: Saturdays 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Tell me moreAn established dance class led by the dynamic Sue Cheesman with support from dance tutors. Participants learn the language of contemporary dance and creative movement, contact improvisation techniques and how to create performances in a safe, engaging and supportive environment.
Join Contemporary Class
Uru atu ki tēnei ao akomanga
DANCE COLLAB with SUZANNE COWAN and LEE MCGARVA - proudly supported by Touch Compass
DANCE COLLAB with SUZANNE COWAN and LEE MCGARVA - proudly supported by Touch Compass
Dance Collab
Venue: Sunderland Lounge, 27 Hudson Bay Road, Hobsonville 0616
Small cost: $15.00 per session - payable to the tutors
Time: Fridays (fortnightly from 19 April) 7.00pm – 8.30pm
A lightly-led fortnightly dance session with a great music playlist of tracks to unwind to fortnightly (every two weeks) Friday evenings from 19 April.
The emphasis is less on technique and more on discovering how your body likes to move. Each session has a different movement theme that will be explored so you can join the class at anytime.
Disabled and Non-Disabled participants welcome. Dance Collab classes are supported by us here at Touch Compass. To register for a class please contact Suzanne Cowan directly at suzannec@touchcompass.org.nz
Resources
Matariki: Ko koe ko au, ko au ko koe
In 2023, Touch Compass's Matariki programme includes a resource aimed at mainstream and specialist schools, disability-led collectives and organisations within New Zealand, alongside an international offering, through which we are engaging disability-led schools and organisations abroad.
Inviting other countries to identify and celebrate the star cluster in their own culture and tradition helps to build bridges of artistic and cultural exchange and communication, while opening the door to share more about disability and access awareness and our Māori culture on a global scale.
Click for more info and to register!
Run (2012): Adrian Smith, Suzanne Cowan
Run (2012): Adrian Smith, Suzanne Cowan
Run
Our Run resource was created specifically for school dance programmes in tandem with the Run performance, with renowned international choreographer Marc Brew, of Axis Dance Company.
The concept behind RUN was to challenge or be challenged, looking at the things that hold people back from achieving their full potential. This comprehensive resource comes with a DVD and an explorative, thought-provoking 122-page book.
Contact for more info
InMotion Matariki
Our InMotion Matariki resource was developed alongside our 2019 iteration of InMotion Matariki, a public event Touch Compass held in 2018 & 2019.
This accessible resource delves into Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) to provide you with a deeper understanding of the Matariki story, and reflects a diverse community. Web-based, this resource is designed as a multimedia experience with engaging content available through the website.
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