KILDA NORTHCOTT

Kilda is one of New Zealand's most accomplished contemporary dancers.

Kilda grew up, studying RAD classical ballet, passing the intermediate level and performing in the end of year shows with the Ruby Conway School of Dance in Kawerau, in the Bay of Plenty.

She studied classical and contemporary dance fulltime in Auckland, at The New Zealand Dance Centre directed by Russell Kerr (classical & repertoire) and Basil Pattison (contemporary)

In the early 1970s she went to Sydney, Australia to further her studies in contemporary dance at The Bodenwieser Dance Center & then on to America to study modern dance at The Merce Cunningham School in New York, and performing & collaborating there. 

She returned to Auckland in the late 1970's and was a founding member of Movement Theatre in Education & then The Limbs Dance Company. She returned to Sydney in 1983 to join Darc Swan directed by Chris Jannides who also founded Limbs & collaborted with other coreographers and companies in Australia.

In 1989 she returned to New Zealand to become a founding member of The Douglas Wright Dance Company.

On returning to Aotearoa in 1989 she was based in Wellington where she taught contemporary dance at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre. There she was also co-director and co-choreographer of works with Lyne Pringle as part of Bipeds.

She moved to Dunedin in 2006 and has been based there since. In Dunedin Kilda initially taught contemporary dance at Dance Theatre Arts, a school directed by Carline Claver. She is now based at the Bennett School of Ballet & Jazz.

Over the last couple of years Kilda has been involved in outside & inside 'site specific works' co-ordinated by Ali East & Miriam Marler & with the Ake Ake Theatre company in two productions - a Matariki inspired collaboration " The Guest House " written and directed by Jessica Latton, Ake Ake Theatre Company & Macbeth in Summer Shakespeare in the Park.

She is looking forward to being involved in the re-staging of a Douglas Wright work ' Forever' re-inhabiting her role as 'the nurse' which is to be part of the Auckland International Arts Festival in 2026.

The Sea Inside Her film and extended works is her second collaboration with Alyx Duncan and Michele Powles. The first being a short dance film Pandora which they made together in 2006.

Kilda has a son, Iharaira and is grandmother to Aurora, Hunter and Otis.

Kilda continues to work as a freelance performer and teacher of dance in and around New Zealand.