Feature: ARTIMUS at Burning Man Productions

Burning Man Productions, a commercial Dance Company formed in 2015, is on a mission to produce professional dance-theatre and to offer support to the growing dance/performer community in New Zealand.

Company Directors James Luck and Rebekkah Schoonbeek-Berridge certainly have the credentials and determination to develop their company into a flourishing successful business touring original pieces both around the country and overseas.

Rebekkah Schoonbeek-Berridge is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, Singer and Actress. Trained in Auckland and later in New York at "Broadway Dance Centre" Rebekkah brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to both the dance floor and her students.

She is a dance teacher at The Dance Studio, Excel Performing Arts, Fusion Dance Studio, Apollo Theatre College and has worked with Auckland schools and corporate dance companies.

Some of her credits include X-Factor Dancer (Season One), The Vodafone season of "Chicago" with Auckland Theatre Company, Les Mills Gym and Choreography for several videos and performances.

A recent recipient of the "Stand out Female Performer Award" at "Short and Sweet Dance Festival " she is involved closely as a part of Tempo Dance Festival's "All That" show.

Since starting his professional career at 16 as an assistant choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance" Australia, James is one of New Zealand's most established commercial choreographers.
During his international career he has worked with artists such as Sia, Jessie J, Little Mix and Annie Lennox (London Olympics 2012). He has Choreographed at celebrity resorts in Europe, Costa Cruise Lines and for The Red Hot Chili Peppers (O2 Arena, London.)

James has taught classes and workshops all over the world and was a resident Hip Hop tutor at Pineapple Dance Studios in London. Some NZ Credits include: ATC's Chicago, TV3's "Dancing with The Stars"
James is in demand for local performances, music videos and stage work.

I recently came across Luck and Schoonbeek-Berridge when I attended the recent performance of their original work, 'Armitus' as their contribution to the Auckland Arts Festival.

A full house at TAPAC, The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, was treated to an evocative, provocative and down-right sexy dance-theatre performance of a story inspired by Artemis the Greek Goddess of nature and the hunt.

Luck and Schoonbeek-Berridge not only devised and choreographed this piece, they also performed along with a group of hand selected dancers. Working collaboratively the two successfully recreated the story of how Artemis was conceived through a scandalous affair and became the savage Goddess she's known to be.

The energy and tension required to authenticate this story on stage was there in volumes.

The performance was action packed as the audience were enthralled by the passion, the energy and emotion of this piece. I was not the only one mesmerised and totally engaged by the totally excellent delivery of the many genres used to tell this tale.

60 minutes felt like 5 and the audience were abuzz after the performance, lingering well after home time just to talk and revel in the experience of the successfully crafted work that they had just witnessed.

I would expect this show to be on tour. There is certainly the market for such original and quality performances within the NZ Performing Arts Market.

Keep an eye out for this Dance Company....watch this space.

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