Te Whaea (National School of Dance and Drama) Open Day

The public will have a rare chance to have a glimpse at the place where our performing artists of the future are made in March. Te Whaea, the home of the New Zealand School of Dance and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School will open its doors to the public on March 5 this year.
The Open Day is being held in conjunction with the Newtown Festival. Your will be treated to a programme of dance, performance and circus activity. And free parking!
The Open Day is the start of a year marking Te Whaea’s 25th anniversary. But the building itself has a long and chequered history from a debt ridden dilapidated building to rebirth as a performing arts centre.Built in 1929 by the Wellington Show Association to hold Trade Fairs and some world exhibition, it fell into disrepair when the Association was unable to maintain its upkeep and was largely regarded as an eyesore. Renamed the Winter Show Buildings, it was a venue for sports, dancing and concerts. It was also the venue for the disastrous Sesqui Centennial celebrations in 1990 designed to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The event was considered a spectacular commercial and administrative failure.
In an average year Te Whaea facilitates around 1700 community bookings, split over more than 200 organisations including arts and culture groups, community and student groups. These include: The Orpheus Choir, Wellington Opera, NZ Opera, WOW, the Royal Academy of Dance and many dance companies including Salsa Congress, , Wellington Hawaiian Dance , Wellington Community Choir, , Orchestra Wellington and festivals including Tango and Kia Mau and conferences.
Te Whaea also offers a range of meeting and conference spaces plus a Box Office and Ticketing service.