Atamira Dance Company presents Ngā Wai

Choreographed by Sean MacDonald

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NGĀ WAI

at Waimarama/Maraetotara Memorial Hall:

Friday 16th April 12 pm

Friday 16th April 7:30 pm

TICKETS: $18

OPEN DANCE WORKSHOP: Tuesday 13 April 12.30-2pm (all ages/abilities welcome)

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Drawing on mythology and historical figures set against the backdrop of Te Motu-o-Kura, Ngā Wai is a new full-length dance work from one of Aotearoa’s most distinguished dance artists – Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa). This is the first return home to Waimārama of the work since the premiere at Auckland's Q Theatre in November 2020.

Seers, shapeshifters, warrior protectors, lovers and thwarted romance from both history and mythology form the essence of this poetic new work inspired from the sacred waters and whakapapa of Waimārama, Sean’s ancestral home in the Hawkes Bay. Ngā Wai is about water and how that flows with everything, is in everything, the pool and flow of the moon and the maternal. It flows with connection, history and strength following the journey of Takitimu (migration waka) from Samoa to Waimārama.

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The multi-faceted characters resurrected from tribal history to tell the tale of Ngā Wai are brought to life by a cast of exquisite dance artists – Bianca Hyslop, Brydie Colquhoun, Kasina Campbell, Jeremy Beck, Tupua Tigafua and Sean himself. With an incredible design team on board including John Verryt (Set), Vanda Karolczak (Lighting) , David Long (Sound and Composition), Te Orihau Karaitiana (Costumes), and Osborne Shiwan (Campaign Design) Ngā Wai is a celebration of Aotearoa’s most creative performance artists and the wealth of stories that are held by Māori.

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"The name adhering to the plurality of waters that exist in ourselves, landscapes, and the cosmos we inhabit, we flowed into community to share stories. The Q Theatre was moving with whānaunga gathered... it was a maze of re-activating relationships inclusive of our lingering gaze, and touch."

Dr Tia Reihana-Morunga

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FREE PUBLIC WORKSHOP

Atamira Dance Company along with Sean are also hosting a free public workshop at Waimārama Memorial Hall on Tuesday 13th April from 12:30pm-2pm. Come along and learn more about the choreographic ideas behind Ngā Wai, learn some repertoire from the show, and move with the dancers - no dance experience needed.

To register for the workshop please contact: marketing@atamiradance.co.nz