Meet Our People: Kit

KIT REILLY | DANCER

Ballet -I love ballet because it teaches you discipline and has given me an incredible foundation of movement and mind body connection. The athleticism and artistry which comes with it has shaped who I am as a dancer, no matter which style or creative direction I take. 

My favourite ballet would have to be “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.” I remember first seeing this when I was at NZSD and it literally had me in a state of absolute wonder and amazement. I am really drawn to highly physical work and this piece demonstrated exactly that.

Collect(ive) - I collect workout routines because I have a low key addiction to the gym. I also unfortunately collect all my receipts which drives my friends crazy when they see my wallet being overflown with paper! 

Aotearoa - Definitely would have to be where I am from, Waiheke island. As I was born and grew up there and it holds such a special place in my heart. My parents still live there and it fills me with so much indescribable joy every time I step foot on the island. The community there is and has been so supportive of me and it feels like a huge family. 

Home - I am from Waiheke Island, just outside of Auckland City. 

Training - I trained at RMDA and Devonport School of Dance while growing up, and then when I was 16 I moved to Sydney Australia to study full time ballet at Alegria Dance Studios. At 18 I moved back to NZ to study at the New Zealand School of Dance as a Contemporary major where I graduated with a Diploma in Dance Performance. 


Highlights - In my third year at NZSD I travelled to NYC and Shanghai to be a part of the Metamorphosis International residency led by Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich. This was such an incredible eye-opener to a really intensive method which has literally changed my approach to dance and how I move. 

After graduating from NZSD I performed in the Rambert Dance Company Installation in London and this was super inspiring as it is one of my dream companies to be in. 

My most recent highlight is creating my first full length choreographic work, Utopia #9 which I developed at Wellesley Studios and premiered at Tempo Dance Festival. This gave me the opportunity to collaborate with my closest friends, explore my creative visions and compose a full music score to accompany it.


Favourite Jam - Strawberry! And it is so good when spread on top of peanut butter! 


And music Jam? Well I am definitely a crazy Lana Del Rey fan so pretty much anything she makes I will listen to on repeat for the rest of eternity.

Photography: Sarah Davies, Sarah Kaye Photography