Nga Kanikani Hou: The New Dance in Aotearoa

August 30, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Kuykendall 410

Special Presentation by visiting Maori dancer, choreographer, and scholar
JACK GRAY

A lecture exploring current initiatives undertaken by researchers, scholars and artists in Aotearoa, New Zealand to revive, renergise and reinterpret pre-colonial Maori arts traditions and practices for contemporary social desires today.

The presentation looks at a documentary called The Whare Tapere - an innovative navigation of fragments of oral tradition relating to lost Maori performing arts culture including dance, music, puppetry, games and storytelling. There will also be a discussion based on the work of Atamira Dance Company - the premiere Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand - exploring perspectives of colonization, urbanization and globalization.

Jack Gray was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His tribal affiliations to Ngati Porou (Toka-a-namu) and Te Rarawa (Mitimiti) reflects his indigenous perspectives that have been nurtured throughout his career as a contemporary dancer and choreographer. Jack founded Atamira Dance Company in 2000 as a platform for Maori contemporary dance artists. The company have performed in Hawaii, New Caledonia, Australia and the Solomon Islands. Jack won the 2011 AMP Scholarship enabling him to share his culture with indigenous people in Australia and the United States.

Free and open to the public

Sponsored by the Center for Biographical Research, the Center for Pacific Island Studies, and English Department


Event Sponsor
Center for Biographical Research, Mānoa Campus

More Information
956-3774, biograph@hawaii.edu, http://www.facebook.com/CBRHawaii

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