Gaylene Sciascia

Gaylene Ann Sciascia ONZM (born 3 September 1948) is a New Zealand choreographer and dance educator.

Gaylene Sciascia

ONZM
Sciascia in 2017
Born
Gaylene Ann Wilson

(1948-09-03) 3 September 1948
Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation(s)Choreographer, contemporary dance teacher
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1972; died 2020)​

Sciascia was born Gaylene Ann Wilson in Auckland on 3 September 1948.[1] She graduated from the University of Utah with a Master of Fine Arts.[2]

In 1972 she opened New Zealand's inaugural contemporary dance company, New Dance,[3] along with John Casserly, Suzanne Renner and Jennifer Shennan.[4] When New Dance toured New Zealand in 1973 was the first national tour of a local modern dance group.[4] Sciascia and colleagues along with others such as Susan Jordan and Jamie Bull (Impulse Dance) were part of introducing modern dance throughout New Zealand in the 1970s.[4]

In 1976 Sciascia organised the first National Dance Congress in Porangahau.[3]

In 1991 she established Whitireia Performing Arts and led the programme until 2011.[5]

Sciascia (left), after her investiture as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, on 24 May 2017

In the 2017 New Year Honours, Sciascia was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for service to dance.[3]

Personal

Sciascia married Piri John Ngarangikaunuhia Sciascia in 1972.[2] He died on 18 January 2020.[6]

References
  1. "Piri and Gaylene Sciascia". www.sciascianz.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. "Sciascia, Gaylene Ann, 1948–". National Library of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. "New Year Honours 2017 – Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. Schultz, Marianne. Limbs Dance Company 1977-1989 : dance for all people. ISBN 978-0-473-40769-8. OCLC 1099780479.
  5. Dando, Kris (11 January 2017). "Gaylene Sciascia humbled by New Year honour for services to dance". Stuff. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. "Kaumātua and leader Piri Sciascia dies". Stuff.co.nz. 18 January 2020. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.


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