Dancers Act and Actors Dance in Pegasus Moon

Tue, 1 Mar 2005

Pegasus Moon brings together in collaboration the contemporary dancers of the New Zealand School of Dance and second year actors and entertainment technology students at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. The grace and power of horses will be harnessed in one exhilarating piece of physical theatre while a second spine-tingling work will evoke the beauty and magnetism of the moon.

Taking their cue from mythology and symbolism the students are developing a movement vocabulary with experienced professionals - half are working with Wendy Wallace and Tom McCrory, while Jude Gibson and Paula Steeds-Huston lead the other students.

The "Moon" section of Pegasus Moon looks at what would happen if we gave ourselves over to the moon and allowed ourselves to once again stand in its luminous shadows, and feel the mysterious stirrings of our flesh and feelings.

"For most of human history we have celebrated and worshipped the moon, created marvellous rituals to praise it, and wondered at its beauty," said Jude Gibson, Co-director of Pegasus Moon.

"Today, apart from sending a flag and 12 pairs of male human feet to stand on it, we barely give it a second thought, never mind a second glance. These days we only find it marvellous when we realise that it would take 135 days of driving for a car to reach the moon."

"In the "Pegasus" work we are inspired by detailed observation of horses in different conditions to draw strong parallels between its behaviour and our own," said Tom McCrory, Co-director of Pegasus Moon.

"From the confined desperation of the horse in the stalls, to the behaviour of conflict, herding and courtship the resonances are strong. On the emotional and spiritual levels we will reveal the strong way that the image of the horse speaks so eloquently of our own sense of reined yearning and need for thundering release."

The collaboration between Toi Whakaari and the NZ School of Dance has been an annual occurrence since 2001 (although there was no public performance in 2004) and brings the students of the Schools together for a performance where the dancers act and the actors dance. They are supported in their work by second year entertainment technology students who will design the lighting and sound for the show.

What: Pegasus Moon - Collaboration 2005 When: 8pm, 11-12, 15-19 March and 2pm only, 13 March (no show 14 March) Where: Te Whaea Theatre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown Cost: $12/$10 Friends of Te Whaea & Concessions - $2 off regular ticket price with a flier Book: 04 389 9056 (automated line)

ENDS

© Scoop Media