PERFORMANCES
2013
AWKWARD ALTARS – initiated by a desire to artistically explore and incubate diversity and difference. A human instinct is to seek out those with whom we can share in commonalities; rarely do we sit comfortably inside the obscene and challenging awkwardness that arises when we are confronted with “the other”. Today this awkwardness may be compounded by our tendencies to make disembodied connections with each other inside the internet’s virtual spaces across and through image-based interpretations of ourselves. We become out of practice with the skills required to just sit and be with each other in the real space. I position this work within this obscene and challenging awkwardness – largely terrifying and socially unchartered that it is – in the hope to discover new poetics; new aesthetics and languages that might give insight into our contemporary collective condition.
2012
FANTASTICALLY NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS – Exploring textures of cultural disconnection and loss, as well new modes of mana in an urban setting. Performed at Tempo Dance Festival, Q Theatre, Auckland.
HINE 2012 - Refraining from worshipping familiar cultural motifs, acknowledging the devious theatre space, revealing the extraterrestrial magic permeating the mundane, stretching the performer/audience, thinking about function, be free. Performed at the Maidment Theatre, Auckland.
NEW TREATY MILITIA – This duet with Joshua Rutter is a performed critique of the Treaty of Waitangi and the power dynamics within it. It marks a radical departure from dance and choreography favouring task-based activity over choreographic construction and composition. New Treaty Militia is a loosely structured improvisation that can go for up to 2 and a half hours. It has been performed in Berlin, New York, Auckland and South Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.
2010
OPENING TO THE DUDLEY BENSON SHOW – This solo piece was made in response to the late Hirini Melbourne’s bird waiata for acclaimed New Zealand musician Dudley Benson’s national tour. It was performed in Auckland, Waitakere, Waiheke, Kerikeri, Nelson, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Akaroa and Dunedin.
2010
WOLF: WHERE WOLVES FEAR TO PREY PRESENTED BY THE SAVAGE SISTERWOLVES – A provocation of the exoticism of Maori in mainstream NZ media, made with Josh Rutter. This work was nominated for 4 Tempo Dance Awards including Most Innovative Choreography, Best Production for a Short Work, Best Music for a Short Work and Best Scenography for a Short Work. It won the award Best Scenography for a Short Work.
2009
PLAYING SAVAGE – A solo work examining the stereotypical images of Maori women. This work was nominated for 4 Tempo Dance Awards including Best Female Performance, Most Inspiring Performance, Best Production for a Short Work and Best Scenography for a Short Work, winning the award for Best Production for a Short Work. Playing Savage was performed in the Tempo Dance Festival in Auckland, the Kowhiti Matariki Festival of Maori Contemporary Dance at Te Papa in Wellington, and during an artist residency at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
