Black Grace: 20 Years Strong

Black Grace: 20 Years Strong

Black Grace and Auckland Live present SIVA

For twenty years the explosive and pioneering work of Black Grace has taken local and international audiences on an epic journey into the very best of Pacific Contemporary dance. To mark this milestone, prolific choreographer Neil Ieremia brings the large scale new work Siva to the ASB stage for two shows only onNovember 6 and 7.

Created especially to mark Black Grace’s 20th anniversary and inspired by iconicBlack Grace works such as Minoi, Surface and Vaka, Siva – which is Samoan for dance - is a percussive and strikingly beautiful work, rich in imagery drawn from our collective consciousness, re-imagined and re-contextualised in acknowledgement of our ever-changing world.

“Siva explodes from the collision of the past and future, capturing our common beauty, our shared history and divine difference. It is more than a celebration of the past - with our fears arrested, it is about rushing headlong into the future.”
– Neil Ieremia

While constantly forging new ground, Black Gracehas never forgotten its rich history. Founded in Auckland in 1995 by Ieremia, Black Grace has become a New Zealand icon.

After 20 years at the helm of arguably our most successful dance company, Ieremia has brought together a formidable team of internationally recognised designers and artists to celebrate what is a remarkable achievement by anyone’s standards.

In collaboration with Melbourne-based lighting designer Paul Lim, visual artist Bruce Ferguson (Darkroom), designer Peter Langford, Cambodian-based visual artists Peap Tarr and Lisa Mann, along with fashion designer extraordinaire Lindah Lepou, Ieremia takes us to a new place with the unmistakeable power and energy that we have come to know as Black Grace.

“Incredible strength, agility, stamina … simply flawless”
- Danceworld.com, New York, 2014

Black Grace has continued to be at the forefront of New Zealand dance for the past two decades and has taken the world by storm with their powerful and highly acclaimed productions. The group have toured throughout North America, playing to audiences of thousands and making their mark at prestigious venues and festivals such as The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts and on New York’s 42nd Street. The Company have also toured to Europe, Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, Guam, South Korea and Mexico..

SIVA plays
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
Performances: November 6 and November 7
Tickets: Tbc (booking fees may apply)
Tickets available through Ticketmaster, on sale tbc www.ticketmaster.co.nz

20 for 20, National tour
National audiences can join Black Grace’s 20th Anniversary celebrations. Black Grace will present a national tour called 20 for 20; Kaitaia to Oamaru, November 10 tillDecember 7. 20 venues, $20 tickets at the door. For more information visitwww.blackgrace.co.nz

ENDS

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