Company Profile
Rifleman productions is the production company of New Zealand based choreographer and director Malia Johnston. The company creates, supports and promotes professional contemporary dance and dancers, and has a reputation for producing sophisticated new dance theatre work.
Rifleman was established in 2006 by Malia Johnston and creative producer/ writer Michele Powles. The company grew out of Outlaw creative - a partnership between Johnston, Powles & Guy Ryan - that created and toured a range of new work between 2004-6.
In addition to Body fight time (currently in development), the company has produced several major works, including Miniatures, Terrain and Dark Tourists.
Rifleman also presented work in Australia for the first time in June 2008.
Philosophy
Rifleman seeks to foster and engage in quality contemporary dance theatre practice and performance that reflects our unique cultural perspective as New Zealand artists.
Rifleman believes that the future for independent choreographers lies away from the traditional dance company model. We aim to: create engaging work for a wide range of audiences; foster relationships with other artists, producers, technicians and business people; embrace professionalism across the full range of creative, production and business practice.
It is a particular aim of Rifleman to promote and widen the public's experience of dance through presenting - in addition to theatre-based work - portable and innovative work that challenges traditional ideas about what dance is and can be.
Though it is primarily a vehicle for the work of Malia, Rifleman is a flexible production company that is also interested in producing the work of other choreographers and/or collaborating with other choreographers in the production of combined programmes. Rifleman artists are interested in developing creative networks with other NZ and overseas artists of all kinds. Please contact us.
Objectives
- To create, support and promote professional NZ contemporary dance
- To provide professional development and performance opportunities for NZ dancers, choreographers and associated artists
- To widen the public's experience of dance
- To provide a supportive environment for exploration and development
- To tour and present work in a wide range of national and international locations