KAHA Short Works, performed at Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau is a mash-up of Maori contemporary dance by the Atamira Dance Company and is a unique and challenging take on Maori culture with real emotion…
KAHA Short Works, performed at Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau is a collection of short works performed by the Atamira Dance Company and is a unique and challenging take on Maori culture.
Being from Canada, my knowledge of Maori culture is only skin deep but I know enough to understand that the issues raised by this contemporary dance production are significant and thought-provoking.
The show began with a bone chilling ‘Haka’ (below) but I especially liked the excerpt from ‘Ngai Tahu 32’ which portrays the life of Wiremu Potiki, a man from the Ngai Tahu Tribe in 1848.
This short work had real emotion and truly communicated a sense of injustice that his people faced at that time.
Another interesting one was called ‘Indigenarchy’ which was about the way the media portrays Maori culture.
They finished it off with a fun rendition of the ‘Poi E Thriller’ from the movie ‘Boy’ with the female dancers showing off their Poi skills!
This show was very entertaining and I enjoyed every minute of it.
For more info see www.atamiradance.co.nz
By Jody Stewart 19 July 2012
Publicity images photographer credit: John McDermott
Performance images photographer credit: Planet Pix Photography
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