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Movement Art Practice (MAP) is a Not-For-Profit contemporary dance organisation based in Sydenham, Ōtautahi Christchurch. Since its inception in 2013, MAP’s goal has been to build and strengthen a community for contemporary movement artists.

Led by a board of local arts leaders from multiple disciplines, MAP believes in an Aotearoa where contemporary dance and performance are woven into the cultural fabric of the community.

The kaupapa of MAP is to develop artists and audiences for contemporary dance and performance by offering training from the best local professional contemporary dance artists in a safe, fun, and friendly environment. The studio runs community contemporary dance classes, kids classes, artist residencies, an annual community choreographic project, monthly MAP sessions (where in-house artists and local performers share work in the development stage) and special Movement Lab workshops led by visiting artists. MAP also produces MAP Quarterly, an in-house publication.

In 2021, MAP invited artists from around Aotearoa to take part in its annual Research Exchange; four artist residencies held in Ōtautahi in April, August, September, and October 2022. Each artist will be working in the studio for a month, presenting a workshop and research presentation to the public, and contributing to the MAP Quarterly Publication.

Every year MAP creates the Community Choreographic Project. No dance experience or training is required of participants, just an open mind and an interest in the creative process. Led by a handful of professional artists, a company of community dancers produces an engaging contemporary performance for the public of Ōtautahi. The location is always unique and the performance is always non-traditional.

MAP Studio is located at 76 Hawdon Street on the outskirts of central Ōtautahi Christchurch in Sydenham. Primarily dedicated to contemporary dance and performance classes, workshops, and events, the MAP Studio is wheelchair accessible, versatile and fit for purpose for a wide range of applications, and is available for hire by negotiation. The studio is 10 x 10m, with a sprung Marley dance floor, toilet and kitchen facilities, as well as office space, an excellent PA sound system, and roller door access to bring in larger items to the space. All users of the space are asked to adhere to the studio’s Safer Space Policy.