Toitū Otago Settlers Museum is getting ready to DANCE! with a new display celebrating of the extraordinary achievements of Dunedin dancer and dance teacher Dr Shona Dunlop MacTavish MBE (1920-2019).
DANCE! will open to the public on Friday 24 October 2025 and continue until 26 October 2027.
In 1956, after an adventurous life abroad as a dancer and missionary, Dunedin-born Shona returned to her hometown with her young family to settle down. She quickly established one of New Zealand’s first modern dance studios, followed by the Dunedin Dance Theatre company. Shona was deeply committed to the potential of dance across many walks of public life, including as a form of protest and also church worship, for which she became internationally recognised.
In Shona’s own words: “I believe absolutely that dance is a reflection of all life’s experiences, a vital living expression of our time.”
Shona was awarded an MBE for Services to the Arts in 1985, and in 2001 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from the University of Otago. On her death in 2019 Shona was described as “the mother of modern dance in New Zealand”.
Jane Macknight, Manager Collections and Exhibitions at Toitū says: “It’s a tremendous honour to be able to bring this display to Toitū. 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. This display is quite literally an invitation to DANCE! with live dance footage and a real ballet barre for trying out some of Shona’s signature techniques.”
Terry MacTavish MNZM, Shona’s daughter, also a dancer and actor and a key driving force behind the display says, “My mother Shona would surely be enchanted by Toitū's exuberant interpretation of her lifelong dedication to dance, 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!”
DANCE! will be on display for two years until 26 October 2027. Keep an eye out for a range of programmes and talks at Toitū, or visit www.shonadunlopmactavish.com for more details.