The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance was established in 2003 and honours Caroline Plummer (1978-2003).
The annual fellowship is for six months (usually February until July), and is open to community dance practitioners, teachers and researches from New Zealand and overseas who have a proposed programme of activity, or project, that furthers Caroline's belief and aspirations for community dance in New Zealand. It provides the recipient with an office/dance space and not less than the minimum salary of a fulltime University Lecturer for a six-month period.
Learn more about Caroline Plummer
See the list of all previous Caroline Plummer Fellowship recipients
Applications for 2027 Otago Arts Fellowships are now open until Monday, 15 June 2026.
Apply for the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
See all Otago Arts Fellowships open for applications
The 2026 Caroline Plummer Fellow in Community Dance is Jeremy Beck
Jeremy Beck
Contemporary dancer, teacher and choreographer Jeremy Beck (Ngāi Tahu) is truly honoured to receive the fellowship, and grateful such an opportunity exists in Ōtepoti.
“To be able to do this work in my hometown feels incredibly meaningful – it’s not just a personal milestone, but a chance to deeply share, exchange, and grow alongside my family, friends and the Dunedin dance community.”
Jeremy has more than a decade of professional experience within the Australian and Aotearoa dance industry.
A Distinguished Graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, he has performed and choreographed for leading dance companies including Footnote New Zealand Dance, The New Zealand Dance Company, and Atamira Dance Company.
He describes his approach to dance as “always evolving” and shaped by the environments and communities he is working in.
“In Dunedin, I see huge potential for dance to be more valued, more understood, and more approachable for a wider population.
“For me, dance has two faces. On one side, it’s a tool for embodiment: a creative outlet that helps people connect with their bodies, sharpen their awareness, and enjoy movement as a social and playful act. On the other side, dance is also a language capable of expressing complex, abstract ideas without words.
“I’m drawn to the challenge of pushing movement to communicate deeply – much like visual art – where the body can reveal and express things that are otherwise difficult to articulate.”
During the fellowship, Jeremy will be facilitating a multi-faceted, community-focused contemporary dance programme titled MOMENTUM.
He hopes the project will spark new and sustained interest in contemporary dance in Ōtepoti.
“Dunedin has a rich contemporary dance history – especially in relation to community engagement and accessibility – a legacy strengthened by the Caroline Plummer Fellowship.
“I aim to continue this important tradition while expanding the conversation – offering new opportunities to engage with dance not only as participants but also as viewers, thinkers, and contributors to a growing local culture of contemporary performance.”
This will include a series of accessible workshops, open classes, and performance events “where music and dance collide in unique ways”.
“I’m excited to shake things up and curate events that feel fresh, engaging and unexpected. Whether as participants moving in a workshop or as audience members engaging with performance, I would like people to feel a new sense of discovery and appreciation for dance.”