BELLE — a performance of air

‘BELLE - A Performance of Air’ is an immersive experience that will surprise and delight audiences with music, light, and dance in a transformative world.

With an exceptional all-female cast, the work celebrates female strength and agility and explores the nature and physics of aerial objects from a choreographic perspective. The aerialists and dancers of ‘BELLE’ perform in a unique purpose-built circus apparatus which is designed for choreography in the air. It transforms the St James Theatre into a space of dreams, desires, ancestry and otherworlds.

‘BELLE’ is a magical experience created by Malia Johnston, who is known for her innovative projects and creative direction on World of WearableArt (WOW). She’s worked in collaboration with renowned aerial designer Jenny Ritchie and performance designer Rowan Pierce. Composer Eden Mulholland and musician Anita Clark add to the atmosphere with rich sounds.

‘BELLE - A Performance of Air’ is part of the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. Held every second year, the 2024 festival runs from 23 February to 17 March. The festival features free and ticketed events including dance, music, theatre, visual arts, literature and more.