Nightline caught up with renowned choreographer Michael Parmenter in Wellington on the opening night of his latest work Tent.
It has been ten years since Michael Parmenter has had to deal with opening night angst.
“Quite often at this stage in a new work I’m saying I’m never going to do this again, this is the last piece I’m ever going to choreograph, but this one's been a much more relaxed and enjoyable process,” Parmenter says.
The 53-year-old choreographer doesn't think his relaxed attitude comes from mellowing with age, but rather a new approach to his passion.
“It seems inappropriate to be making up movement on my body, an older body and teaching it to younger dancers. So I was keen to develop new ways of choreographing in a way in which I could draw the movement out of the dancers rather than make it up as I’d always done, on my own body,” he says.
A visionary in the contemporary dance scene, Parmenter is known for pushing the boundaries of the human body.
Having just finished his Masters degree in philosophy, and about to embark on a PHD, Parmenter has been busy in between projects. He admits he is the mature student in the front row.
“Oh yes, the ideal mature student, I do all the readings and all my essays in on time,” admits Parmenter
Living with HIV is part of the inspiration for his latest project, but he doesn't dance quite as much as he used to.
“I don't think I’ll be flinging my legs around anymore - maybe for an old man's piece perhaps,” he laughs.
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