Alyx Duncan, is an Aotearoa-based choreographer and movement coach, director and artist. She embarked on her creative journey in 2006, venturing into the rich intersection of dance and cinema. Her versatile portfolio includes a critically acclaimed feature film, multiple award-winning shorts, and significant contributions to screen dance. In addition to her directorial achievements, Duncan choreographs for film and television.
Her film, "THE TIDE KEEPER," earned accolades on a global scale, while "THE RED HOUSE" resonated with audiences in New Zealand and abroad. Through her work, Duncan delves into themes that explore the complex identity of being Pākehā while striving to be a better ancestor. Her work examines the challenges of motherhood in an environmentally challenged world.
She was a recipient of the prestigious New Zealand Film Commission Gaylene Preston Female Directors’ Award and SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association) New Filmmaker of the Year Award.
Alyx holds a Masters of Theatre Arts (Directing) with Distinction from Victoria University and Toi Whakaari and a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Contemporary Dance) from Unitec, New Zealand.
When choreographing for film and TV: “I love the challenge that comes with creating movement-based characters and sequences within the restrictions of a scene. Working in collaboration with the director and production, my job is to enable actors/dancers/extras to create dynamic grounded performances that enhance the story, while honouring the genre and language of the film. I’ve been honoured to work in diverse styles including: 1920s Lindy Hop, Chinese wrestling, a great white shark that chases a grandmother around her house, people being blades of windblown grass, burlesque, over-eighties dancing in their coffins, preschoolers performing a nativity show... “