Book launch
Dance-floor Romance by Chris Tse
- Date
- Wednesday, 18 November 2026
- Time
- 6.00pm (NZT)
- About this event
Poetry meets the dance floor in a dazzling celebration of music, memory, identity and the irresistible pull of a good beat! Unity Books Wellington welcomes award-winning poet and former New Zealand Poet Laureate Chris Tse for a special evening celebrating his fourth poetry collection, Dance-Floor Romance, published by Auckland University Press. Set against the glittering, strobe-lit backdrop of nightclub culture, Dance-Floor Romance is a vibrant exploration of joy, nostalgia, love, vulnerability and the music that shapes our lives. Moving between euphoric dance-floor anthems and the quieter, more reflective moments after the party ends, Tse's poetry captures both the exhilaration of being alive and the uncertainty of navigating an ever-changing world. Pop culture, queer identity, personal memories and the enduring power of art weave through this energetic collection. From childhood experiences and formative friendships to the artists and songs that have provided comfort, inspiration and escape, Tse explores how music and poetry can help us make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Written largely during his tenure as New Zealand Poet Laureate, from 2022 to 2025, the collection also reflects on resilience and the importance of finding happiness in difficult times. In a recent interview, Tse revealed that a question from his brother helped inspire the book: when was he going to write something happy? The result is a collection that embraces joy without ignoring life's complexities. About Chris Tse Based in Wellington, Chris Tse is one of Aotearoa's most celebrated contemporary poets. He was appointed New Zealand's 13th Poet Laureate in 2022, a role he held until August 2025. His previous poetry collections include How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, which won the Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry in 2016; HE'S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority, which was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award and longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. He also co-edited Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa with Emma Barnes, celebrating the diversity of queer voices in New Zealand literature. Joining Chris for this special event are fellow poets Maia Armistead, Helen Rickerby and Joseph Trinidad, who will share readings as part of the celebration. Expect an evening of lively, moving and thought-provoking poetry that explores the connections between music, memory, identity and the human experience. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Tse's writing or simply curious about contemporary New Zealand poetry, this is an opportunity to experience a collection that finds beauty in both life's euphoric highs and its quieter moments. And while there may not be an actual dance floor between the bookshelves, the spirit of one will certainly be there!
- Cost
- Free
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Added 9/11/2026 · Last checked 9/11/2026
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