Culture Moves - Tanemahuta Gray

Tanemahuta Gray

Tanemahuta Gray, artistic director of Te Ao Marama Tapui Ltd, graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1994. Since then, he has worked professionally as a dancer, choreographer, aerialist, director, and producer, in New Zealand and around the world.

Aerial theatre experience

For the past five years Tanemahuta has performed with De La Guarda, one of the world’s leading aerial theatre companies and has become one of New Zealand’s leading physical theatre and performance aerialists.

One of 14 performers chosen in 1999 from among 1,800 who auditioned for the London season, Tanemahuta has performed De La Guarda in Las Vegas, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, and Sydney. His experience includes being performance captain for the Las Vegas and Buenos Aires seasons.

Tikanga Māori

Of Ngai Tahu, Rangitane, and Waikato descent, Tanemahuta has supplemented his professional dance training and aerial theatre experience with an ongoing love for tikanga Māori. A conversational speaker of te reo Māori, Tanemahuta’s study of Maoritanga has focused, in particular, on mastering kapa haka.

Tanemahuta has performed in two national kapa haka competitions (with Ngāti Pōneke) and, in January 2004, attended his 14th taiaha training camp at Mokoia Island, Rotorua, as an ahorei (senior regional tutor) under the mantle of Mita Mohi. Drawing on these skills, in 1997 Tanemahuta choreographed and produced Te Ao Hurihuri—The Changing World, a two-hour dance work that explored his bicultural identity.

Director/choreographic Experience

Tanemahuta has produced and directed eight productions. In May 2005, Tanemahuta was the artistic director of “Maui – One Man Against The Gods,” which was performed at the Westpac St James, 2005 to rave critical reviews. With almost 15,000 people attending the season, a cast of 22 and a production whanau of over 40 people helped to build this show, including Gareth Farr, Merenia Gray, Tamati Te Nohotu and Taiaroa Royal.

Tanemahuta was nominated as Best Emerging Director at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for the pilot version of Maui in 2003. The pilot also won three NZ Fringe Festival Awards.

Performance Experience:

Tanemahuta’s highlighted performance credits include the role of Riff in West Side Story with Wellington Musical Theatre, and the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance, both performed at Wellington’s Opera House.

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Tanemahuta Gray

Tanemahuta Gray Tanemahuta Gray, artistic director of Te Ao Marama Tapui Ltd, graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1994. Since then, he has worked professionally as a dancer, choreographer, aerialist, director, and producer, in New Zealand and around the world. Aerial theatre experience For the past five years Tanemahuta has performed with De La Guarda, one of the world’s leading aerial theatre companies and has become one of New Zealand’s leading physical theatre and performance aerialists. One of 14 performers chosen in 1999 from among 1,800 who auditioned for the London season, Tanemahuta has performed De La Guarda in Las Vegas, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, and Sydney. His experience includes being performance captain for the Las Vegas and Buenos Aires seasons. Tikanga Māori Of Ngai Tahu, Rangitane, and Waikato descent, Tanemahuta has supplemented his professional dance training and aerial theatre experience with an ongoing love for tikanga Māori. A conversational speaker of te reo Māori, Tanemahuta’s study of Maoritanga has focused, in particular, on mastering kapa haka. Tanemahuta has performed in two national kapa haka competitions (with Ngāti Pōneke) and, in January 2004, attended his 14th taiaha training camp at Mokoia Island, Rotorua, as an ahorei (senior regional tutor) under the mantle of Mita Mohi. Drawing on these skills, in 1997 Tanemahuta choreographed and produced Te Ao Hurihuri—The Changing World, a two-hour dance work that explored his bicultural identity. Director/choreographic Experience Tanemahuta has produced and directed eight productions. In May 2005, Tanemahuta was the artistic director of “Maui – One Man Against The Gods,” which was performed at the Westpac St James, 2005 to rave critical reviews. With almost 15,000 people attending the season, a cast of 22 and a production whanau of over 40 people helped to build this show, including Gareth Farr, Merenia Gray, Tamati Te Nohotu and Taiaroa Royal. Tanemahuta was nominated as Best Emerging Director at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for the pilot version of Maui in 2003. The pilot also won three NZ Fringe Festival Awards. Performance Experience: Tanemahuta’s highlighted performance credits include the role of Riff in West Side Story with Wellington Musical Theatre, and the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance, both performed at Wellington’s Opera House.