First Quarter Newsletter 2007

4th Apr 2007

The Atamira crew has had a busy 2007. The Rotorua Festival was treated to a great performance by the company who toured “Memoirs of Active Service” by Maaka Pepene in January. The crew remounted the show in the hot summer sun at Pt Chev Bowling Club. Smells of rotten eggs, thermal pools, free breakfasts, and performing in a fabulously large theatre were some memories of the trip to Rotorua. The Daily Post loved us, and Justine had a fantastic picture in the paper. Ka pai Maaka and the team!

Following this, Moss Patterson had a successful development workshop in February with dancers Tai Royal, Maaka Pepene, Peter Sears, Louise Potiki Bryant and Kelly Nash. From all reports back the workshop was an exploration into new territory for Moss. Seeing snippets of the video, the dance looked dynamic, vibrant and the dancers looked athletic, gorgeous and sexy! Tumeke Moss and crew!

March saw Atamira performing at Te Tuhi (The Mark) art gallery in Pakuranga as part of the AK07 exhibition opening of “Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf” curated by Pita Turei and Emma Budgen. Choreographer Louise Potiki Bryant worked with dancers Jack Gray, Maaka Pepene and Kelly Nash whipping up a routine to music composed by Paddy Free and direction by Louise.

Atamira dancers were lucky to perform in Louise Potiki Bryant and Vanda Karolczak’s project ‘Art on the Beach’ at Piha. Rehearsals took place in Piha at Barnett Hall, and the audience was treated to a magical show in a giant raked circle of sand, lit with amazing lights by Vanda and Paddy’s sounds, and projection on Lion Rock by Louise. The atmosphere was stunning, the wind, ocean waves, and the pitch blackness offset by ritualistic dancing, mythical characters, seaweed straps, nikau bird beaks, and red trees.

The company then performed Ngai Tahu 32 in March, and celebrated one year at the DANZ Tamaki office. Coming up in the next three months -- formalising as a Charitable Trust and launching the web site.