True Value is the latest offering of site-specific contemporary dance presented by Waikato Contemporary Dance Projects Trust. In this performance, choreographer Helene Burgstaller will be joined by local dancers Gabriel Baker, Ella McLeod- Edwards and guest artist Veronica Buttorini.Set in the seclusion of the walled English Flower Garden, audiences will enjoy the values of the colours, textures and design in which both dancers and plants flourish. Inspired by the garden, this dance work explores the ideas behind the Arts and Craft design movement on which the gardens design is based. The Arts and Crafts movement started as a protest against the industrial revolution, addressing the concerns that arose around quality of products manufactured and social impacts on the workers involved flocking to the cities during this time. With this dance work, True Value explores the ideas behind the movement and its ongoing relevance in our modern times, with a link to environmental issues that plague our modern society.

Location: English Flower Garden, Hamilton Gardens. Admission is free.

Performance times are:
Thursday 8th February at 18.00 (meet at the Information Centre Entrance)
Friday 9th February at 14.00 (meet outside the English Flower Garden)
Saturday 10th February at 11.00 (meet outside the English Flower Garden)
Sunday 11th February at 10.30 and 13.00 (meet outside the English Flower Garden)
In addition to the scheduled performances, Waikato Contemporary Dance Projects Trust will also offer a workshop. In this workshop participants of all ages and dance experiences can experience some of the processes behind making True Value and create some of their own ‘Arts and Craft’. The workshop will be held in the Chinoisery garden at 14.00 on Saturday 10th February.

For more information contact:
Karen Barbour: email karen.barbour(at)waikato.ac.nz or call 021-855-749 to arrange a photo shoot or interview!
Helene Burgstaller: heleneburgstall(at)hotmail.com or call: 027-3394042
and visit: www.facebook.com/wcdpt and hgaf.co.nz/sessions/true-value

The funding of Creative Waikato and Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival is vital to this production, along with the support of Bizworx and the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.

Helene Burgstaller is a freelance dancer and choreographer who lives in Paeroa. She regularly dances with Waikato Contemporary Dance Projects Trust in Hamilton and Touch Compass Dance Company in Auckland. Since 2015 she's been teaching Contemporary and Creative classes in Paeroa in her dance school Paeroa Contemporary Dance.