Exhibition to honour inspirational dancer

By ODT | Posted: Wednesday Oct 22, 2025

The life of New Zealand’s "mother of modern dance" is being showcased at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum for two years, beginning on Friday

Exhibition to honour inspirational dancer | Otago Daily Times Online News

The life of New Zealand’s "mother of modern dance" is being showcased in Dunedin from next week. 

The exhibition, "DANCE!", will celebrate the achievements of Dunedin dancer and teacher the late Shona Dunlop MacTavish.  

It will be shown at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum for two years, beginning on Friday.

Toitū manager of collections and exhibitions Jane Macknight said it  was a "tremendous honour" to be able to showcase the display.

"We strongly believe in the story of Dunedin as a creative hub across the visual and performing arts, music, poetry and literature and we are building our collections and displays to reflect this ongoing story."

Mrs Dunlop MacTavish was born in Dunedin in 1920 and after leaving to do missionary work and work as a dancer, she returned to the city in 1956, after the death of her husband.

She then established one of the country’s first modern dance studios, followed by the Dunedin Dance Theatre company.

Mrs Dunlop MacTavish was committed to using dance as a tool for change, and integrating it into many aspects of life, including as a form of protest, and for church worship.

She was awarded an MBE for services to the arts in 1985 and, in 2001, received an honorary doctorate of literature from the University of Otago.

After her death in 2019, she was described as the "mother of modern dance in New Zealand".

Her daughter, Terry MacTavish,  said her mother would "surely be enchanted by Toitū’s exuberant interpretation of her lifelong dedication to dance".

"[She had] a passion so profound and joyful it inspired generations of dancers and fellow artists, who hopefully will be as delighted by this fine exhibition as I am."