New Zealand choreographer/dancer Douglas Wright will premiere his new work, Black Milk, a work he has researched and developed with the help of the Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellowship.

New Zealand choreographer/dancer Douglas Wright will premiere his new work, Black Milk, a work he has researched and developed with the help of the Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellowship.

Wright said, "After Inland in 2002, I intended to focus exclusively on my writing and didn't think I would make another large-scale dance-theatre work," the Auckland choreographer said, "However, the central idea for Black Milk wouldn't leave me alone and in the end, I had to give in to it.""The fellowship was perfect timing because it gave me a year of unpressured creative time, enabling me to bring an unprecedented amount of work to fruition."

Black Milk is an exploration of the boundaries of love, fear and memory, expressed through Wright's uniquely physical language and his trademark earthy black humour. It will showcase some of New Zealand's leading dancers. Sarah-Jayne Howard and Claire O'Neil are both returning from overseas for the tour while Craig Bary rescheduled a performance at the Sydney Opera House to be available for the tour.

"When I heard that Douglas was creating a new work I knew it would be because he was intensely inspired," Bary said. "This is a rare and precious opportunity to be part of that experience."

Arts Board Chair Alastair Carruthers said one of Creative New Zealand's priorities was funding projects that contributed to sustainable, rewarding careers for artists. National tours extended the life of a work, provided employment and built audiences.

"The fellowship offered Douglas the opportunity to take artistic risks, explore and create new work over a one-year period," Mr Carruthers said. "A number of other outstanding New Zealand artists are also involved in the project, and we're delighted that audiences from Invercargill to Auckland will be able to see this major new work."

The eight-strong ensemble will also feature the talents of local dancers Alex Leonhartsberger, Jessica Shipman and Paora Taurima, as well as actor Carl Bland.

The choreography will be set to the music of famed Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti, integrated into an original score by Wellington musician David Long. Formerly a member of The Mutton Birds and Six Volts, Long recently produced Dave Dobbyn's widely acclaimed album, Available Light, and created musical sound design with Plan 9 for the Lord of the Rings.

Wright's long-time collaborator, Michael Pearce, will design the set and costumes. Pearce is an exhibiting artist in his own right, whose set work includes stage design for the Australian Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Nederlands Dance Theatre and the Australian Ballet.

The 2006 season of Black Milk will coincide with the release of Wright's second book, Terra Incognito, to be published by Penguin. His first book, Ghost Dance, won the E.H. McCormick Best First Book Award (non-fiction) at the 2005 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Black Milk will premiere in Invercargill's recently renovated Civic Theatre on 25 March before touring to Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.

Bookings for Black Milk open on 10 January through Ticket Direct in Invercargill and Ticketek at all other locations.

Tour dates:
Invercargill Premiere: Civic Theatre -25 March 2006
Dunedin: Regent Theatre -28 March 2006
Christchurch: James Hay Theatre -31 March 2006
Auckland: Sky City Theatre - 5 to 8 April 2006
Wellington: Opera House - 12 to 13 April 2006