Artistic Director Jack Gray marks the 21 years of Atamira Dance Company with their  new collaborative new work Te Wheke. 

The work brings together leading names in contemporary dance from Aotearoa including arts laureate Louise Potiki Bryant, Dolina Wehipeihana, Taane Mete, Kelly Nash, Gabrielle Thomas, Kura Te Ua and Bianca Hyslop. 

These eight choreographic practitioners, with a cast of eight dancers including the renowned Sean MacDonald, explore the dimensions of human experience symbolised by the eight tentacles of Te Wheke - the Octopus, a powerful guardian on this journey from past into future. 

Solo and ensemble expressions of darkness and light occur within a shape shifting world of floating black silk. Layers of symbolism emanate through the magical visual patterning and mesmeric soundscapes with lighting enhancing all - both revealing and hiding. 

Titiro ki muri, haere whakamua. Look back, move forward. 

""These are creative declarations to the world, and this is Kaupapa Maori Contemporary Dance in all guises of existence”. - Megan Seawright, Theatreview 

The performance will be followed by Q&A with practitioners, or register to join kaikanikani for the free Atamira Dance Company Workshop. 

atamiradance.co.nz @atamiradancecompany 

Register here for the workshop - TairawhitiFestival/atamira-workshop

Additional Information:

• Suitable for audiences aged 10 years + 
• Warning smoke and sound effects

*Due to safety and restricted viewing, children under 10 years are not permitted in the first row of the Circle (Rows AA, BB and CC upstairs).

Wheelchair seats must be reserved in advance, please ring 0508 iTICKET (484-253).

Please note there may be a lockout policy in place once the show starts, so please ensure you are on time.

Children under 5 - Children are aged 12 and under. All children must have a ticket regardless of age. Please note, only select shows have a child’s price.

Go back to the main Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival page