THE COUNTERPOINTE STUDIO

Classical ballet in a place with its own artistic history.

Counterpointe is based on the second floor of the historic School of Art building at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, in the heart of Christchurch.

Our studio brings together the traditions at the centre of Counterpointe: the heritage of classical ballet, the lineage of its teachers, live music, and a building created for generations of artists.

Counterpointe’s home at The Arts Centre allows dancers to experience ballet within a wider cultural environment.

Training takes place within the historic School of Art, while performances and artistic projects extend into some of The Arts Centre’s remarkable spaces, including the Great Hall. Our location also creates opportunities for connection with Christchurch’s wider artistic community. Counterpointe dancers are able to attend performances by University of Canterbury music students, while university student pianists are welcomed into the studio to discover and develop the specialist art of accompanying classical ballet.

An empty dance studio or classroom with a polished wooden floor, white walls, and ceiling, multiple hanging light fixtures, large windows on the right, a ballet barre on the left wall, and some furniture, including a small bookshelf, a piano, and storage boxes along the back wall.

A home for artists

Since 1873, the Arts Centre site has been a place of learning, creativity and artistic endeavour.

Counterpointe occupies the former School of Fine Arts building of the University of Canterbury - a building connected with generations of New Zealand artists including Rita Angus, Rata Lovell-Smith, Olivia Spencer Bower and William Sutton.

Today, that artistic tradition continues through a different art form, as young dancers study classical ballet and music within the same historic walls.

A historic stone building with gothic architectural features, including pointed arches, turrets, and intricate facade details, situated on a street with trees and street lamps.
 

How to find us

Counterpointe is located on the second floor of The School of Art building, 1 Hereford Street.

Close up of a ballet barre mounted on a white wall, with a ballet studio in the background and large windows allowing natural light in.
A ballerina practicing ballet in a dance studio with large windows and blue flooring.
Two young girls dressed in ballet costumes are lying on the floor in a dance studio, resting with head close together, surrounded by ballet shoes and accessories.