The late Carla van Zon was a dynamo in the arts in Aotearoa and the world. We acknowledge her extraordinary contribution to dance – from her start at her mother Boukje van Zon’s dance school, to studying dance at Otago University, George Washington University and the summer programme of the American Dance Festival.

She danced with the Auckland University Dancers, was the creator of Independance, and a producer for many dance projects and companies including Taiao.

Following this she had a remarkable 20+ career in festivals as Artistic Director at New Zealand Festival of the Arts and Auckland Arts Festival programming, presenting and commissioning dance from Aotearoa and the world.

Join us for a free (but ticketed) formal acknowledgement in the Loft and then in the Q Theatre foyer afterwards to connect and reflect.

Honouring a Dance Creative builds on a legacy of celebrating dance creatives since 2008.

Previous recipients include:
2008   Glenn Mayo
2009   Debra McCulloch
2010     Douglas Wright (as a choreographer) and Taiaroa Royal (as a dancer)
2011     Dorothea Ashbridge
2012     Mary Jane O’Reilly
2013     Deirdre Tarrant
2014     Jacqui Cesan
2015     Katie Haines
2016     Lyne Pringle
2018     Russell Kerr
2024 Susan Jordan