Born out of the Pacific Dance Choreographic Laboratory, the Pacific Dance Festival is now on at the Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland, providing an opportunity for Pacific choreographers to create, develop, and perform original dance works in a celebration of Pacific cultures.

Week Two of the Pacific Dance Festival features the men of the programme in action, presenting Tamatoa and consisting of five original works: Muamua, Keeping the Faith, Fa’aafa, Mea Tau, and Tu Move.

The short works programme allows the male choreographers to create and perform their original works in the heart of Auckland’s Pacific community, taking to the stage at the stunning Mangere Arts Centre. Tamatoa includes two pieces from Joash Fahitua, who has previously danced professionally with decorated local dance company Black Grace, Muamua and Keeping the Faith – the only performer to be presenting two works in the Festival. Pati Tyrell, known for his work with the FAFSWAG Arts Collective will present his highly personal piece Fa’aafa for his solo dance debut, created specifically for the Festival. Two young performers from the New Zealand School of Dance have travelled up from Wellington to perform in Tamatoa with two individual pieces in Tu Move, and Elijah Kennar’s work Mea Tau completes the programme.

“The festival is New Zealand’s only contemporary Pacific dance festival of its type and showcases some of the country’s most exciting contemporary Pacific dance choreographers,” says festival director Iosefa Enari. “It is also a wonderful opportunity for audiences to familiarise themselves with the incredible diversity of performance out there.”

Returning in 2017 after a hugely successful debut last year, the initiative by Pacific Dance New Zealand embraces contemporary Pacific dance in the most populous Polynesian city in the world.

PACIFIC DANCE FESTIVAL 2017

Tickets:

Children - $12.00 per ticket

Unwaged and student $20.00 per ticket

Adult - $25.00 per ticket

Polypass (4 shows) - $75.00

Tickets via Eventfinda

Venue: Mangere Arts Centre

Tamatoa featuring Muamua, Keeping the Faith, Fa’aafa, Mea Tau, and Tu Move – Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd June

Double Bill: Aumaga and Le Mau – Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th June