Haere Mai! Welcome to Mika’s AROHA Mardi Gras…

8 September 2011

Haere Mai! Welcome to Mika’s AROHA Mardi Gras…

A FREE CELEBRATION OF AUCKLAND CITY COLOUR & DIVERSITY

Friday 23 September, 6pm and 8pm
Takutai Square, Britomart Precinct, Auckland City

FREE EVENT!

The original New Zealand Māori cross-cultural gender-bender, Mika, has created a magical celebration of Auckland in all its glorious colour and diversity.

AROHA Mardi Gras is an exhilarating music, dance, art, fashion, drag, burlesque and multicultural performance showcase. Mika stirs up a 21st Century cultural melting pot of tangata whenua and manuhiri from all shores into a spectacular two hour entertainment experience.

Outrageous, eye-opening and extremely entertaining, Mika’s AROHA Mardi Gras combines the myriad of cultures that now call Aotearoa home – Japanese Taiko drummers, Polynesian dancers, Bollywood performers, belly dancers, and show-stopping drag and transgender performers – with traditional and techno-inspired Māori kapa haka crews.

This multicultural carnival will also feature popular soul and reggae singers, award-winning actors and TV personalities, a full Kim Crawford Creative Fusion fashion show from contemporary korowai designer Kiri Nathan, former All Blacks and Olympians, fresh and funky Mai FM Kā 400 flash-mobs, the mighty Te Tai Tonga kapa haka group, local 1st XV rugby teams, and a scrum pack of New Zealand’s favourite celebrities.

Bring the whole whanau for an unforgettable and FREE evening out on the town! Mika’s AROHA Mardi Gras is happening in Britomart’s Takutai Square on Friday 23 September, with shows at 6pm and 8pm.

Both shows will be filmed to air on Māori Television during their Rugby World Cup schedule (refer to Māori TV publicity material for confirmed screening time).

Proud to be part of the REAL New Zealand Festival. Kotahitanga mā te Rerekētanga! Unity through Difference!

www.mikahakafoundation.com / www.facebook.com/arohamardigras

FEATURED SOLOISTS:

Mika – original Māori artist and entertainer whose innovative work spans stage, film, television, fashion and music

Rena Owen – one of New Zealand’s most successful and recognisable actresses of both stage and screen

Keisha Castle-Hughes – internationally recognised Māori actress, and the youngest ever nominee for a Best Actress Academy Award

Jay Tewake – AROHA Mardi Gras choreographer, lead singer of new pop group, The Glamboyz, and Mika Haka Foundation’s Kā Life Team Leader

Edward Ru – lead singer of Auckland reggae band, Sweet & Irie

Erakah – talented young R&B and soul singer, and winner of Best Pacific Female Artist category at the Pacific Music Awards

Mahina Kaui – Taonga Pūoro composer and master musician, and founding member of Hokianga roots band, Big Belly Woman

Leda Petit – New Zealand’s top burlesque showgirl, and hostess of Petit Cheval Burlesque

Kiri Nathan – AROHA Mardi Gras costumier and award-winning Māori fashion designer, known for her contemporary korowai couture

All music by Mika and Siegfried Hans, with Gareth Farr, Michael Rush, Sonny Bishop, Tim Corin and Mahina Kaui

PERFORMANCE GROUPS:

Mai FM Kā 400 Crew – Mika Haka Foundation youth performance and active participation group, led by Jay Tewake
New YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNUsjaFLfq0

AUT Dance Company – a collective of past and present AUT University Bachelor of Dance students

Te Tai Tonga Kapa Haka – South Auckland Māori cultural performance group, based at Manurewa Marae
New YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHIsmCu7s5A

Te Ariki Vaine – Polynesian dance team, fusing Cook Islands, Tahitian, Samoan and Tongan movement

Haere Mai Taiko Drummers – Auckland based Japanese drumming and dance group

The Glamboyz – Jay Tewake’s pop group and dance crew

Haka Punks – Mika’s new kapa haka fusion crew
New YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czYb8kRWX3Q

Pounamu Diamonds – Mika’s soul powered girl group and backing vocalists, led by Rachael Avega-Timoti (a.k.a. BUU)

Desi Shape Shifters – Auckland based Bollywood dance group

Pearlz of Meganesianz – show-stopping Fa’afafine Cook Islands dance troupe

Te aMo – traditional and contemporary Polynesian dance fusion

TamaSa – South Auckland based traditional Samoan performing arts group

The Manu Dolls – South Auckland based Māori drag troupe, led by Miss Chanel D’Vinci

Phoenix & Tais Belly Dance – Auckland based, international award-winning divas of belly dance

OFFICIAL AROHA AFTER-PARTY!

Downtown heads uptown after Mika’s AROHA Mardi Gras!

Get it on with Mika and the cast of AROHA at the Family nightclub complex and party into the morning after. Kick-off from 10pm at Family Nightclub, 270 Karangahape Road.

Plus, Mika’s Haka Punks and Miss Ribena’s drag divas will also be rarking up the Karangahape Road ridge after each and every Eden Park match right through the Rugby World Cup! Ka pai!

ENDS

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