FRINGE '04: Atamira Dance Collective

Acclaimed Atamira Dance Collective perform for the first time in Wellington at BATS Theatre at the 2004 Fringe NZ Festival.

Atamira features three works by leading young Maori choreographers Jack Gray, Moss Patterson, and Louise Potiki Bryant(Best new choreographer 2003, NZ Listener)

Atamira has a cast of dancers including Dolina Wehipeihana(Best female dancer 2003, NZ Listener), Justine Hohaia, Louise Potiki Bryant, and Cathy Livermore. Following the Fringe Festival Atamira Dance Collective prepare to take Whare tangata and Paki go to the 2004 South Pacific Arts Festival in Belau.

Louise Potiki Bryant presents the newly invigorated Whare tangata, first performed at Atamira Dance Collective’s Freshly Minted in 2001. Whare tangata is a powerful trio exploring the roles of women in both Maori and Christian creation stories. Bryant’s unique choreographic style is exhibited in this work which combines intricate movement with innovative set, projection and design concepts.
‘pick of the crop is Whare tangata, Lou Bryant’s stunning study of the roles of women’ NZ Herald
‘’...a strong and beautiful work. Their undulating backs and outstretched arms convey ecstasy and grief’’ NZ Listener

Hail by Jack Gray is an enigmatic duet, alternatively fast-paced and subtle. Inspired by the burial platform(atamira) used in Maori tradition Hail portrays the spirit world of the recently departed, the dancers swooping and falling in swirls and curves. Hail premiered at Atamira’s 2003 season at the Maidment Studio and was performed at the Paopaopao festival in Hamilton.
‘’Gray’s choreography has no hard edges, movements link effortlessly, patterns curve and swirl’’ NZ Listener

New work Paki by Moss Patterson marks his first choreography on Atamira Dance Collective after working with the collective as a dancer in 2003. Paki follows Patterson’s choreographic interest in the physical embodiment of kowhaiwhai patterns, as seen in his works ‘Manawa’ on Touch Compass, ‘Pitau’ on Footnote Dance Company, and ‘Koru’ on Black Grace Dance Company.

Bookings at BATS Theatre (04) 8024175 or online book@bats.co.nz
For further information contact Atamira Publicist atamiradance@hotmail.com
Atamira showcases New Zealand’s finest young Maori choreographers and dancers:

Louise Potiki Bryant Kai Tahu
Louise was named The NZ Listener’s Best new choreographer 2003 for her ‘Te Aroha me te Mamae’ from Atamira Dance Collective’s 2003 season. She has choreographed in all of Atamira Dance Collective’s seasons, as well as performing her solo/interdisciplinary work ‘Turanga’ in Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch. Most recently Louise was Kai Tahu Artist in residence at Otago Art School. Louise graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in choreography in 2000, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Otago University.

Moss Patterson Ngati Tuwharetoa
Since graduating from Unitec with a Bachelor in Screen and Performing Arts in 1998, Moss choreographed and danced with Black Grace Dance Company and Footnote Dance Company, Touch Compass and Atamira Dance Collective. Moss began his career as a musician – one of his recordings is A Place to Stay on the Sugarlick’s compilation album Style Upon Styles. Moss is currently Head of Dance at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Mangere.

Jack Gray Ngati Porou/Nga Puhi
Jack has a strong choreographic style evident in his choreographies on Atamira Dance Collective and his show Solace, at Tempo Dance Festival 2003. Jack is the founder of Atamira Dance Collective, initiated in 2000 as a platform for emerging Maori choreographers and dancers to present dance projects relative to their shared cultural heritage and perspective. Jack danced extensively through Europe where he was a DanceWEB scholarship holder in 2001.

Dolina Wehipeihana Ngati Raukawa/Ngati Tukorehe
Dolina has worked solidly on a variety of dance projects since graduating from Unitec in 1995. Named NZ Listener’s best female contemporary dancer 2003, for her versatile and beautiful performance in Atamira’s ‘Te Aroha me te Mamae’ and ‘Hail’, Dolina has also graced such dance projects as Merenia Gray’s ‘Te Mana’, Curve Dance Collective’s ‘Signed’, Touch Compass’ ‘Lighthouse’, and Mary Jane O’Reilly’s ‘Limbs Retro.spective’.

Justine Hohaia Ngati Rehia
Justine’s dancing has been described as a ‘sublime spirit waiting to be set free’. A 1995 graduate of The New Zealand School of Dance, Justine was a core member of Auckland Dance Company and has worked with Mau Dance Theatre and Merenia Gray. Highlights of her career include the Limbs Retrospective, and Eric Languet’s ‘Les Noces’ performed at the International Arts Festival in 1996.

Cathy Livermore Ngai Tahu
A 2002 graduate of Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, Cathy has danced steadily, performing in a number of works at Tempo, Auckland’s Dance Festival 2003, including choreographing a solo for ‘Scratch and Sniff’. Cathy grew up in Australia, but her Maori ancestry drew her to New Zealand.

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