MALIA JOHNSTON
FOUNDER AND CREATOR
Malia has been directing and choreographing live performances for over 20 years throughout Aotearoa. She has enjoyed collaborating with a wide range of performers and arts organisations and has been commissioned to create new works for companies nationally and internationally, as well as developing new live contemporary performances, alongside collaborators, with her own company, Movement of the Human. Malia directed the opening ceremony for the Fifa Women's World Cup 2023 and she has also been deeply involved as a lead creative and show direct for the Annual World of WearableArt awards for over 22 years , a show that now welcomes around 60,000 people during its season in Wellington each year. Malia is known for her cross form collaborations and her work often involves artists from diverse practices. Significant repertoire includes Belle - A Performance Of Air, Meremere, Mana Wahine (created with Okareka Dance Company), Owls Do Cry (A theatre production created with Red Leap), Rushes, Pukeahu National War memorial Opening ceremony, He Wawā Waraki: Roaring Chorus - Armistice Commemoration, Hurihuri for the commonwealth games arts festival. A new work IMPRINT was performed in Holland and Germany and toured New Zealand - commissioned in 2024 by the New Zealand Dance Company. Malia also directed the opening ceremony for the Choir Games 2024.
