After a 20 year performance career as a dancer in both Europe and with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Turid has had a further 20 years of experience as a ballet coach and rehearsal director. She has been involved in the dance industry in New Zealand for nearly all of her professional life.
Trained at New Zealand’s National School of Ballet (now New Zealand School of Dance), she began her professional career with the Royal New Zealand before heading to Europe and performing in the Koblenz Ballett, Germany for 5 years. She also performed in the prestigious Bayreuthe Festspiel each summer from 1982- 1986. Returning to New Zealand to she became a soloist with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and after 13 years became their Artistic Co-ordinator and assistant to the Artistic Director. In 2003 she was appointed the company Ballet Mistress remaining in the position for 11 years. She has not only coached and restaged ballets, but has also choreographed a number of works for the RNZB. Turid is currently a classical tutor at the NZSD. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) out of QUT and has written the history of the New Zealand School of Dance for its 50th anniversary publication.
As well as teaching at the New Zealand School of Dance, Turid is also, currently, the Artistic Director and Producer of BalletCollective Aotearoa. Turid is passionate about developing homegrown talent and finding opportunities to help us grow and nurture what is unique and extraordinary about dancers from Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Organisation/Company
Name: BalletCollective Aotearoa
My Role: Artistic Director & Producer
BalletCollective Aotearoa (BCA) is a contemporary dance collective made up of a diverse group of kiwi artists trained in classical ballet here in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are passionate about everything dance and with collaborating with other performing artists in our country.
We look to break down barriers through this non-verbal medium, through which we can share and understand all of our diverse cultural backgrounds and celebrate our unique identity.
Iwi affiliation
Ngati Pakeha
Rohe
Ko Tauhara te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
No Taupo nui-a-tia ahau
How I got where I am today
I grew up in Taupo, with my father a member of the local CAS
I learnt ballet in Taupo but travelled to Auckland for lessons my final years at secondary school
Trained at the National Ballet School (now NZ School of Dance)
Performed with the New Zealand Ballet on graduation
Employed as a dancer with the Koblenz Ballett in Germany for 5 years and at the Wagner Bayreuthe Festpiel for 5 years
Returned to the Royal New Zealand Ballet where I was a dancer for 13 years
On retiring from dance I became their Artistic Adminstrator/Co-ordinator
After 3 years I then became their Ballet Mistress for the next 11 years
I also choreographed a number of works on the RNZB dancers
I have served on the Board of Trustees of the NZ Dance Archive and the Dorothy Daniels Dance Foundation
I have written the published history of the NZ School of Dances at 50
I am currently a part-time tutor at the NZ SChool of Dance and
Artistic Director and Producer of the BalletCollective Aotearoa
Whānau
My husband is a former dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and is now if Biodiversity Advisor with the Greater Wellington Regional Council
Koolish Zein
Artform: Dance & Live Music
Development Status: Tour Ready (We had our premiere season as part of the Poneke Festival of Contemporary Dance 2025.)
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
“Koolish Zein” Leto said, voice soft. This is all the good we may ever have!" - from Frank Herberts ‘Dune’ series.
Koolish Zein is a generous and compelling evening of dance, offering audiences a rare chance to witness fresh choreographic works shaped by classical technique. Five distinct pieces make up the programme, curated around a selection of compositions from world renowned Wellington composer John Psathas.
This collaboration between percussionist Naoto Segato and BalletCollective Aotearoa brings the futuristic sounds of Psathas into a more visual space. It looks at a changing world order, explores an imagined future and challenges us to query the hope of a better world – or is ‘this all the good we may ever have’
The 5 works in the programme are:
Mentacide - an exciting work for snare drum and digital audio, the work querying a new social order that is inhabiting our lives.
Atalanta - for vibraphone, this new choreography explores the joy of youthful love and the ensuing chase between young spirits.
Infinite Minds - a verbatim work to the words of Noam Chomsky. Chomsky’s voice is suspended over an eloquent and often energized solo marimba. It highlights the many imminent threats to human civilization, with a deep focus on the underlying need for recognizing the truth of our situation. (This work has been created to be taught to secondary school students so as to have community involvement in our performance. We are able to provide school and community outreach if wanted by the presenter.)
Relentless - had it’s New Zealand premiere in our inaugural performance in the Poneke Festival fo Contemporary Dance. Written in 2023 Psathas asked the performer, Zoi Argyriou, what made her truly angry. Her response was the treatment of woman by men.
Koolish Zein - is one of John Psathas’s latest works which had its New Zealand premiere performed by Segawa, and the work looks to evoke resonances of an imagined future.
Creative Team and Crew
BalletCollective Aotearoa
Naoto Segawa - Percussionist
Dancers
Callum Phipps (choreographer of Atalanta & Koolish Zein)
Zoe White (co-choreographer of Koolish Zein)
James Burchell
Kyoka Takahashi
Luke Cooper
Ruby Clarke
Crew
Eventsuite - Janina Panizza & Alan Wilson
Number of People in the Touring Party
10
Previous Seasons
Classical on Cuba 2023 (Koolish Zein only)
Poneke Festival of Contemporary Dance 2025
Reviews and Quotes
‘Koolish Zein is a triumph for BalletCollective Aotearoa, who continue to forge an important pathway for both dancers and audiences eager to see classical dance in more accessible formats.’ - Sarah Gregory for Theatreview
'The space explodes at the seams with talent and gusto. ' - Lyne Pringle for The Post
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.