Wet Hot Beauties

The Wet Hot Beauties Present Sea Change

The Wet Hot Beauties are New Zealand's unique, all inclusive, contemporary water ballet troupe.

Sea Change is a visually spectacular exploration of girl power, liberation and the ties that bind packaged into a full-length water ballet at Parnell Baths as part of the February 2017 Auckland Fringe and Pride Festivals.

What Makes The Wet Hot Beauties So Damn Special?

Glamour! Excitement! Danger! It's luscious, leggy ladies in gorgeous swimming caps with hot-red lips.

Nine years ago, founders Pip Hall and Judy Dale were told that they were too old to learn synchronised swimming. Instead of giving up, they founded the Wet Hot Beauties and reinvented the forgotten art of water ballet in the process. Growing from 11 brave souls to a troupe of more than 100, the Wet Hot Beauties is a fully inclusive water-ballet company delivering high-quality performances in the pool and ocean to the wider Auckland community.  

Inspired by the charming and spectacular aquacades of early cinema's delightful 1930s and 1940s era and the kaleidoscopic designs of Hollywood movie director and water musical choreographer, Busby Berkeley, this contemporary spin on water ballet is physical, theatrical and unique. 

The Wet Hot Beauties operate with a kaupapa of body-positivity, easy accessibility and easy achievability. As a community we gather afresh each Auckland summer to learn new skills. Glamorous and classy - most of all it's fun and cool and everyone is welcome to join!

With Auckland-regional reach, wide local participation and feel-good New Zealand coverage, both the 2011 and 2013 seasons won Auckland Fringe Festival's Peoples Choice Award, being the media feel-good, sold-out hits of the summer.

Why We Need Your Help

The Wet Hot Beauties are currently developing Sea Change, our third full- length water ballet and a visually spectacular exploration of girl power, liberation and the ties that bind.

Transforming the iconic Parnell Baths into a Wet Hot Beauties haven across 6 summer nights, Sea Change embarks on a journey that reflects the feelings and experiences of being female in this modern world. It's kick-ass women floating in glamorous synchronicity to a stunning soundtrack of Nina Simone, The Motels, Sia and Beyoncé. 

The money you help us raise will go towards venue hire, paying designers and crew as well as creating sets, sourcing props and of course, buying a whole new range of our iconic swimming caps!

More than this, your contribution will help us to create a show that will be a joyous, transformative arts experience for audiences and participants alike. Being a Wet Hot Beauty is more than simply being in a show - it is about the empowerment, body positivity and sense of belonging that develops throughout the rehearsal process. From new mothers, to working professionals to adventurous grandmothers, all our Wet Hot Beauties develop a confidence and sense of joy that ripples throughout the wider Auckland community. Our ethos is to celebrate women and to make dance accessible to everyone, and your generous support will be a significant way to help make this happen. 

The Wet Hot Beauties' Sea Change will be a life-affirming, joyful and inclusive celebration and we'd love for you to be a part of this journey. 

Creative Team

Co Producers/Sea Change Co-Creators: Judy Dale & Pip Hall

Choreographer/ Sea Change Co-Creator: Lara Liew

Lighting Designer: Brad Gledhill

Sound Designer: Jason Smith

Production/Stage Manager: Justin Gregory