Archive for the ‘Dance’ Category
« Older EntriesNew Search Begins for New Zealand’s Best Street Dancers
Dancers from around the nation will bring their creative choreography, intense performance, and individuality to the stage in hopes to gain the title of 2010 New Zealand Street Dance Champion. Platforming New Zealand’s top competitive crews, the National Champs event will embrace the street dance culture and introduce the new BBOY 3on3 Battle. The search continues this Saturday 13 March 2010 with the regional event in Wellington. This is followed by the Waikato/BOP regional event on 20 March and Northland regional event on 27 March. The BBOY 3 on 3 Battle takes place at the National finals, Telstra Clear Pacific Arena, Great South Rd, Manukau on 9 and 10 April 2010. For more information visit www.sdnz.org.nz.
Tongan Cultural Giant – Futa Helu – Dies
Tongan cultural giant, Professor Futa Helu has died at the Vaiola Hospital in Tonga, aged 75. Renowned for his profound knowledge of traditional Tongan cultural expressions, Professor Helu was at the forefront of intellectual thinking about education and the arts in the Pacific. As a young man, Futa Helu studied at the Newington College in New South Wales and then attended Sydney University where he studied philosophy, English literature, mathematics and physics. Back in Tonga, he founded Atenisi University, an institution that championed innovative and critical thinking and which grew from a night school into a university that now confers Masters and PhD degrees. He was the author of several ground-breaking articles most of which were published in Critical Essays: Cultural Perspectives from the South Seas (Journal of Pacific History, 1999). Paying tribute to him, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Dr. Colin Tukuitonga said “He was truly one of the great academic giants of the South Pacific and our condolences go out to his children and grandchildren.”
Island Summers: Historical Milestone for Pacific Arts
Island Summers is a Pacific arts exhibition that commemorates a decade of Christchurch’s Pacific Arts Festival. Curated by Stephanie Oberg, the show features a snapshot of art work from the last ten years of the city’s popular festival. Two accompanying exhibitions, “Tiare Maori” and “What-cha Say?” are a reminder that Pacific arts, both traditional and contemporary, continue to flourish in the garden city. The first exhibits the traditional Cook Island art of tivaevae and the relatively new but related art of cotton flower making. The second is an exhibition of talented young Pacific and Maori artists whose work sheds light on what is meaningful for young people today. It includes a video by Browhi productions featuring a local crew of shuffle dancers. Island Summers runs from 12 January to 10 February 2010, at Our City O tautahi, on Worcester St Bridge/ Oxford terrace in Christchurch.
Tenth Anniversary Brings Curtain Down on Christchurch Pacific Arts Festival
Pacific Underground will host the 10th and final annual Pacific Arts Festival in early February 2010. “Ten - Pacific Arts” marks a significant milestone for Pacific Underground, the Christchurch-based performing arts and events collective. Over the past decade, many Pacific artists from NZ, Australia and the Pacific have performed, displayed, demonstrated or created at this festival. Following its mission of supporting emerging Pasifika and Maori artists, Pacific Underground has organised an “all Ages” gig at the Bedford with several headliners including J Williams. The workshops at the Canterbury Museum return as does the Family Day at the Arts Centre on Sat 6 February. The Family Day features local Pacific musicians and dancers as well as the popular Adeaze and Mark Vanilau. Our City O-Tautahi will feature the final art exhibition for the festival curated by Stephanie Oberg. “Island Summers” explores the history of the festival as well as an exhibition of emerging artists.
(Image of Pacific Underground’s Pos Mavaega, from the Christchurch Music Industry Trust - CHART - website)
“Tempest: Without a Body” to light up Pacific Thought Symposium
The Mau Dance Company and its choreographer, Lemi Ponifasio, are taking the highly successful part dance, part theatre, and part oratory show Tempest: without a body to Sydney for the 5th Pacific Thought Symposium - Bringing Forth the Ancestors. The Tempest was first staged in Vienna in 2007 and has since received accolades from all over the world. The Pacific Thought Symposium is scheduled for 10 January 2010 and panelists include Lemi Ponifasio, Rhoda Roberts (Dreaming Festival, Pacific Arts Alliance), Tame Iti, Leali’ifano Albert Refiti, Hufanga ‘Okusitino Mahina, and Katerina Teaiwa.
(Image from the Sydney Festival 2010 Website)
Art Tours: Creative New Zealand Requests for Expressions of Interest
In its efforts to support the development of more skilled arts practitioners, Creative New Zealand is looking to contract a suitably qualified training provider to plan and provide a short course for up to 22 arts practitioners. The course is to provide New Zealand arts practitioners with opportunities to gain knowledge and develop the skills required to successfully organise the touring of performing art works and writers within New Zealand. Creative New Zealand is also interested in hearing from suitably qualified and experienced New Zealand arts practitioners who can contribute to such a course as a tutor or mentor. After completing the course trainees will be expected to develop the skills and knowledge required for successful touring within New Zealand and take account of the cultural needs and perspectives of practitioners with a focus on touring works by Maori and New Zealand Pacific artists. Interested parties are invited to submit a written expression of interest to Creative New Zealand by no later than 5 pm on Friday 18 December 2009. For more details, contact John McDavitt by email at john.mcdavitt@creativenz.govt.nz or by phone on (04) 498 0736.
Manukau Fono Celebrates Pacific Dance in Aotearoa/New Zealand
The Pacific Dance Fono, now in its third year, is one of the exciting attractions at the 2009 Manukau Arts Festival. The fono is a forum which provides capacity building, exposure and development for the Pacific Island dance community. The fono is to be held over two days, with a programme of practical workshops, panel discussions including a hip hop dance forum and master dance classes in Polynesian and Melanesian dance forms. The international guest artist for 2009 is Julia Mage’au Gray, director of Sunameke Productions, a Pacific Island performance group based in Darwin, Australia. Three new Pacific dance works will be developed as part of the Choreographic Lab, held during the preceding two weeks. The fono concludes with the launch of the new dance works in a special public performance. The Choreographic Lab will be held across three venues and is open for observation - a great learning opportunity for dancers, choreographers as well as teachers and students of dance. The event runs from 2 to 13 November 2009, Monday-Friday, 10 am-3 pm, at the Metro Theatre, Mangere East; Nathan Homestead Theatre, Manurewa; Otara Music Arts Centre, Otara. For more information ph (09) 815 5772 or email fono@danz.org.nz. The fono is presented by the Manukau City Council in partnership with DANZ and the Pacific Islands Dance Forum, with funding from Creative New Zealand.
Survive & Thrive: Invitation for Auckland’s Creative Sector to Network
ART (Arts Regional Trust | Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi) and The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui warmly invites interested individuals to attend a unique, forum, expo and networking event: “Survive & Thrive: sustaining creative projects, organisations and businesses in challenging economic times.” Participants will hear from leading creative entrepreneurs, their success stories, and their views on present and future opportunities. The forum presents an opportunity to connect with peers and other influential people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors. Organisations that are the supporters, motivators and the backbone of the Auckland region’s creative sector will be on hand to help artists, producers, makers and doers to deliver. Entry is free. However, places are limited, so registration is essential. Contact details: RSVP to margaret.lewis@thebigidea.co.nz by 2 November with each person’s name, email, creative discipline and whether you require lunch.
- When: Monday 9 November 2009 - 11.00 am - 4.00 pm (expo, networking and lunch from 11am, forum starts at 1pm)
- Where: TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, 770 Grt South Rd, Manukau
Artists for Tsunami Relief: Art Auction in Auckland
Artists have come together to organise an Art Auction in aid of victims of the recent tsunami in Samoa and Tonga. The auction on Tuesday 20th of October 2009 at Webb’s in Newmarket features more than 70 pieces of art from some of New Zealand’s most renowned artists. This artist-initiated project is being coordinated through the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust. Works have been promised from Lonnie Hutchinson, Niki Hastings-McFall, John Ioane, Suzanne Tamaki, Fatu Feu’u, Edith Amituanai, Jim Vivieaere, Johnny Penisula, Michael Hight, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Deborah Crowe, Chris Charteris, Tracey Tawhiao, Nathan Pohio, and many more. Also included is an eclectic mix of novel works which include signed memorabilia of Bro’Town, a T-shirt and CD package from King Kapisi, a DVD package of Sima Urale films, a photographic series by Steven Ball, as well as book packages from writers. The event also features live performances by dancers, musicians and poets. The auction is at Webb’s auction house, 18 Manukau Rd, Newmarket from 6 pm. Viewing times are from 9 am – 6 pm. The catalogue can be viewed at www.webbs.co.nz.
(“Masina” by Edith Amituanai (2008). A2 Giclee museum quality print. 420mm x 580mm. Image from the Webbs Auction website.)
Macmillan Brown Pacific Artist in Residence 2010 Call for Applications
Applications and nominations are invited for the University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre’s Pacific Artist in Residence. The Residency is co-funded by Creative New Zealand and is open to traditional or contemporary Pacific artists in the fields of textiles, ceramics, painting, sculpture, and the literary and performing arts. Applicants or nominees should be New Zealand based and will be expected to conduct workshops and interact with the University and Pacific communities in Christchurch while in residence. The residency is tenable for a period of three months and provides recipients with the time, space, and facilities to develop their artistic practice in an academic environment. The previous resident artist was Kulimoeanga Stone Maka (left). Applications for the 2010 award close on 09 November 2009. They should include a proposal of what will be accomplished during the residency.
