Mapunapuna
SHORT NEW WORKS '08
Aroha, guitars and ukuleles, goddesses, show-bands, and the pearly trail of the Pacific are the sources of inspiration for short new works by ATAMIRA Dance Company.
Choreographer Maaka Pepene presented Te Kore inspired by the birth of his son, Jack Gray choreographed Maapuna drawing from the definition of MAAPUNA which means "to ripple, to sway, to undulate, to sigh, to grieve", and inspired by Atamira’s tour to Hawaii in January 2008. Dolina Wehipeihana presented the fun short piece The Starlight Ballroom. Inspired by the NZ showbands of the 1950’s, offering a window into the timeless optimism of youth, aroha, and above all having a good time. The performance culminated in guest choreographer Moana Nepia’s exotic work Waiata Poi.
As well as developing main-bill works, Atamira is committed to fostering and developing choreographic practice and supporting a variety of choreographic voices. Creating Mapunapuna provided the opportunity for the company to work-shop ideas and choreographic material and share with audiences in Auckland.
Atamira were back in a church hall with 4 choreographers, 7 dancers, 2 babies and whanau coming together to workshop, choreograph, devise, and drink endless cups of tea.
The seeds of ideas for the works were inspired by events of the past year including Atamira’s tour through the pacific to Hawaii and New Caledonia, and two more babies born into the Atamira whanau.
Mapunapuna means ‘rippling’. We hope in the future that the works will also ripple out to the wider community and potentially tour nationally to schools and marae, to engage communities that may not be as familiar with contemporary dance, and to share a diverse range of Maori dance works with audiences.
View You Tube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8hkISIfrew
