Dancer’s Mission To Motivate Self-esteem (Press, 23 September 1988)
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Summary: Dancer’s Mission To Motivate Self-esteem (Press, 23 September 1988)
On 23 September 1988, Deborah McPherson reported on Charles Neho, the first artist in residence at the Kingslea Resource Centre in Auckland. Neho, a 25-year-old dancer, expressed his embarrassment over a nickname given to him by local teenagers who teased him for wearing black-tinted glasses, calling him "tranny" due to their perception of his appearance. Neho began his six-week residency at Kingslea on a programme initiated by the Social Welfare Department and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council’s arts access initiative, designed to foster creativity within the community. During his time at Kingslea, he will work alongside established artists, including Debbie McCullagh of the Limbs Dance Company, choreographer Jamie Bull, and Sarah Franks, director of the Puawai Polynesian Performing Arts scheme. Neho is enthusiastic about using movement as a tool for aiding teenagers in building self-esteem and confidence. He noted the untapped creative energy within the community, suggesting that many young people have potential that has not previously been harnessed. He highlighted that the teenagers at Kingslea are there because they struggle to cope in other environments, and he aims to guide them through learning about movement in a way that resonates with their individual interests and aspirations. Having recently returned from a three-month experience at various dance schools in New York, Neho has a background in dance that spans four years. His journey began in 1984 when he joined a drama and music programme facilitated by the Labour Department in Auckland. This led him to become part of Te Kanikani O Te Rangatahi, a Maori contemporary dance group that continues to tour New Zealand. In 1985, he enrolled in a dance training programme with the Limbs Dance Company, also through a Labour Department scheme, and graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1987, where he received a scholarship to study in New York. Neho's residency at Kingslea signifies an important step in connecting the arts with community development, focusing on the potential of young people to express themselves and find their place through creative movement.
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