News Items:
TAONGA: DUST, WATER, WIND 2010 National Tour - 19th Aug 2010
BRIGHT STARS DANCE DURING MATARIKI - 20th Apr 2010
HOU: Emerging Works from New Choreographers - 8th Feb 2010
Moss Patterson appointed Executive Director - 2nd Dec 2009
Atamira warmly received in New Caldeonia - 10th Sep 2008
Atamira dance in Hawaii - 28th Feb 2008
Whakairo wins three awards in debut season - 12th Nov 2007
Taiawhio II features Atamira - 9th Jul 2007
Maori Dance Company carve a moving portrait - 2nd Jul 2007
First Quarter Newsletter 2007 - 4th Apr 2007
ATAMIRA Dance Company presents MEMOIRS OF ACTIVE SERVICE - 4th Sep 2006
Atamira Dance Company presents
TAONGA: DUST, WATER, WIND
National Tour 2010
Atamira Dance Company lit up the international stage in 2008 performing in both Hawaii and New Caledonia. The accolades generated from these seasons have made Atamira more than just ‘world famous in New Zealand’.
Their latest work TAONGA choreographed by Louise Potiki Bryant was unveiled last year at The Auckland Festival. This October TAONGA will go ‘on the road’ and tour to four of New Zealand’s major arts festivals.
The dance is inspired by childhood memories of Louise Potiki Bryant’s Aunty Rona, who has lived on the South Island’s Catlins coast for 82 years. Her experiences are woven with the Maori myth Rona and the Moon’. TAONGA; Dust, Water, Wind is a graceful combination of Maori contemporary dance theatre and traditional Maori instruments (taonga puoro), revealing what is precious in our contemporary lives, how we cope with change and the role of intuition.
TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind is the fifth dance work that Louise Potiki Bryant has choreographed with Atamira Dance Company since 2000. Having been supported by Toi Maori Aotearoa as a Toi Maori choreographer, her works have been held in very high regard. NZ Listener named her “Best New Choreographer” in 2003 and in 2004 named Ngai Tahu 32 as “Best Contemporary Dance Production.” Her film, Whakaruruhau he mihi ki Araiteueru has been exhibited in the United Kingdom as part of the Pasifika Styles Festival, and her film Tuia won best Best Music Video at the ImagiNATIVE awards in Toronto.
Accompanying the performance is Richard Nunns, a living authority on traditional Maori musical instruments. Having dedicated his life to the understanding, making, playing and recording of these instruments, Nunns’ sensitive and thorough research has provided a great deal of information about the sound, history and stories of the instruments to ensure their preservation for future generations. Nunns also picked up a Tui award for his work for “Best Maori Album” in 2007.
Atamira is New Zealand’s leading Maori contemporary dance company and comprises New Zealand’s top Maori dancers and choreographers. Atamira create dance works inspired by Aotearoa’s history, legends and contemporary issues as well as their own stories and whakapapa. The company is critically acclaimed and renowned for their inventive and stunning contemporary works –TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind looks to be a further extension of their iconic works.
TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind plays in four of New Zealand most exciting arts festivals. Tickets $20- $48.
The Body Festival
Ngaio Marsh Theatre
October 9th and 10th.
www.courttheatre.org.nz
03 963 0870
Otago Festival of the Arts
King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre
October 15 and 16th.
www.ticketdirect.co.nz
03 4778597
Nelson Arts Festival
Theatre Royal
October 19th and 20th
www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz
03 548 3083
Manukau Arts Festival
Genesis Energy Theatre
October 27th
www.ticketdirect.co.nz
0800 4 842538
Atamira Dance Company presents
WHETU
The Matariki Short Works Tour 2010
Renowned Maori dance collective Atamira return after the intrigue and success of Hou with a second exciting showcase of familiar, beloved works as Whetu (Star) tours across the North Island this June.
As the Maori New Year dawns upon Aotearoa, it is a time for whanau to come together and reflect on the past and the future. Matariki is celebrated through a variety of different arts in its many forms also – including performances unique to the Maori culture.
Atamira celebrate Maori culture through their contemporary works and much like the defining spirituality of Matariki, Whetu promotes the future of the company with it’s rising stars and emerging choreographers while bringing some of the collectives previous works to the forefront.
Shooting onto the stage are works by established Atamira choreographers Maaka Pepene, Jack Gray and Moss Patterson which are performed alongside celebrated pieces by pioneering Maori dance choreographers Charles Koroneho (He Taura Whakapapa) and Stephen Bradshaw (Mauri)
A founding member of Te Kanikani O Te Rangatahi and lecturer of Dance Theory at UNITEC, Koroneho has danced with many of this country’s top choreographers; Koroneho's work involves cultural collaboration, the development of interculturalism, performance art and cultural consultancy, exploring the collision between Maori cosmology, New Zealand society and global cultures.
Bradshaw’s work, Mauri, has been cited as one of the first examples of Maori contemporary dance with it modern interpretation of traditional Maori themes dealing with life force. One of the previous stand out works of Atamira, mixing elements of dance with kapa haka, the work has gone on to be part of the curriculum in NZ dance schools.
Atamira will sing, dance and perform to the ancient chants of their ancestors, celebrate the achievements of the Maori battalion and reinvent rock ‘n’ roll with a return to the Happy Days era.
Whetu will celebrate Matariki – the coming of the New Year of Maori cosmology.
Whetu tours:
Hamilton – Telecom Playhouse – June 16th and 17th. Ph: 07 8585100 www.ticketek.co.nz
Rotorua – Arts Village – June 19th and 20th Ph: 07 348 9008 or via ticketmaster
Wellington – Te Papa (Kowhiti Festival) – June 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th Ph: 04 384 2294 www.ticketek.co.nz
Auckland – Hawkins Theatre (Papakura) – June 29th at 7.30pm. Doors open 7pm. Ph: 09 2977712 www.ticketek.co.nz
Ticket Prices
$12 -15 Concession (Student, DANZ Member, Child, Senior citizen, Unwaged, Group 6+) $18 -30 Adult.
For media enquiries, contact
Michelle Lafferty or Joanna Lee Kelly at Elephant Publicity
Phone: +64 9 368 4180/ e: elephant99@paradise.net.nz
TAONGA: DUST, WATER, WIND 2010 National Tour - 19th Aug 2010
BRIGHT STARS DANCE DURING MATARIKI - 20th Apr 2010
HOU: Emerging Works from New Choreographers - 8th Feb 2010
Moss Patterson appointed Executive Director - 2nd Dec 2009
Atamira warmly received in New Caldeonia - 10th Sep 2008
Atamira dance in Hawaii - 28th Feb 2008
Whakairo wins three awards in debut season - 12th Nov 2007
Taiawhio II features Atamira - 9th Jul 2007
Maori Dance Company carve a moving portrait - 2nd Jul 2007
First Quarter Newsletter 2007 - 4th Apr 2007
ATAMIRA Dance Company presents MEMOIRS OF ACTIVE SERVICE - 4th Sep 2006
Latest News
TAONGA: DUST, WATER, WIND 2010 National Tour
19th Aug 2010Atamira Dance Company presents
TAONGA: DUST, WATER, WIND
National Tour 2010
Atamira Dance Company lit up the international stage in 2008 performing in both Hawaii and New Caledonia. The accolades generated from these seasons have made Atamira more than just ‘world famous in New Zealand’.
Their latest work TAONGA choreographed by Louise Potiki Bryant was unveiled last year at The Auckland Festival. This October TAONGA will go ‘on the road’ and tour to four of New Zealand’s major arts festivals.
The dance is inspired by childhood memories of Louise Potiki Bryant’s Aunty Rona, who has lived on the South Island’s Catlins coast for 82 years. Her experiences are woven with the Maori myth Rona and the Moon’. TAONGA; Dust, Water, Wind is a graceful combination of Maori contemporary dance theatre and traditional Maori instruments (taonga puoro), revealing what is precious in our contemporary lives, how we cope with change and the role of intuition.
TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind is the fifth dance work that Louise Potiki Bryant has choreographed with Atamira Dance Company since 2000. Having been supported by Toi Maori Aotearoa as a Toi Maori choreographer, her works have been held in very high regard. NZ Listener named her “Best New Choreographer” in 2003 and in 2004 named Ngai Tahu 32 as “Best Contemporary Dance Production.” Her film, Whakaruruhau he mihi ki Araiteueru has been exhibited in the United Kingdom as part of the Pasifika Styles Festival, and her film Tuia won best Best Music Video at the ImagiNATIVE awards in Toronto.
Accompanying the performance is Richard Nunns, a living authority on traditional Maori musical instruments. Having dedicated his life to the understanding, making, playing and recording of these instruments, Nunns’ sensitive and thorough research has provided a great deal of information about the sound, history and stories of the instruments to ensure their preservation for future generations. Nunns also picked up a Tui award for his work for “Best Maori Album” in 2007.
Atamira is New Zealand’s leading Maori contemporary dance company and comprises New Zealand’s top Maori dancers and choreographers. Atamira create dance works inspired by Aotearoa’s history, legends and contemporary issues as well as their own stories and whakapapa. The company is critically acclaimed and renowned for their inventive and stunning contemporary works –TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind looks to be a further extension of their iconic works.
TAONGA: Dust, Water, Wind plays in four of New Zealand most exciting arts festivals. Tickets $20- $48.
The Body Festival
Ngaio Marsh Theatre
October 9th and 10th.
www.courttheatre.org.nz
03 963 0870
Otago Festival of the Arts
King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre
October 15 and 16th.
www.ticketdirect.co.nz
03 4778597
Nelson Arts Festival
Theatre Royal
October 19th and 20th
www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz
03 548 3083
Manukau Arts Festival
Genesis Energy Theatre
October 27th
www.ticketdirect.co.nz
0800 4 842538
BRIGHT STARS DANCE DURING MATARIKI
20th Apr 2010Atamira Dance Company presents
WHETU
The Matariki Short Works Tour 2010
Renowned Maori dance collective Atamira return after the intrigue and success of Hou with a second exciting showcase of familiar, beloved works as Whetu (Star) tours across the North Island this June.
As the Maori New Year dawns upon Aotearoa, it is a time for whanau to come together and reflect on the past and the future. Matariki is celebrated through a variety of different arts in its many forms also – including performances unique to the Maori culture.
Atamira celebrate Maori culture through their contemporary works and much like the defining spirituality of Matariki, Whetu promotes the future of the company with it’s rising stars and emerging choreographers while bringing some of the collectives previous works to the forefront.
Shooting onto the stage are works by established Atamira choreographers Maaka Pepene, Jack Gray and Moss Patterson which are performed alongside celebrated pieces by pioneering Maori dance choreographers Charles Koroneho (He Taura Whakapapa) and Stephen Bradshaw (Mauri)
A founding member of Te Kanikani O Te Rangatahi and lecturer of Dance Theory at UNITEC, Koroneho has danced with many of this country’s top choreographers; Koroneho's work involves cultural collaboration, the development of interculturalism, performance art and cultural consultancy, exploring the collision between Maori cosmology, New Zealand society and global cultures.
Bradshaw’s work, Mauri, has been cited as one of the first examples of Maori contemporary dance with it modern interpretation of traditional Maori themes dealing with life force. One of the previous stand out works of Atamira, mixing elements of dance with kapa haka, the work has gone on to be part of the curriculum in NZ dance schools.
Atamira will sing, dance and perform to the ancient chants of their ancestors, celebrate the achievements of the Maori battalion and reinvent rock ‘n’ roll with a return to the Happy Days era.
Whetu will celebrate Matariki – the coming of the New Year of Maori cosmology.
Whetu tours:
Hamilton – Telecom Playhouse – June 16th and 17th. Ph: 07 8585100 www.ticketek.co.nz
Rotorua – Arts Village – June 19th and 20th Ph: 07 348 9008 or via ticketmaster
Wellington – Te Papa (Kowhiti Festival) – June 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th Ph: 04 384 2294 www.ticketek.co.nz
Auckland – Hawkins Theatre (Papakura) – June 29th at 7.30pm. Doors open 7pm. Ph: 09 2977712 www.ticketek.co.nz
Ticket Prices
$12 -15 Concession (Student, DANZ Member, Child, Senior citizen, Unwaged, Group 6+) $18 -30 Adult.
For media enquiries, contact
Michelle Lafferty or Joanna Lee Kelly at Elephant Publicity
Phone: +64 9 368 4180/ e: elephant99@paradise.net.nz