Auckland Arts Festival 2016 presents Changes

World Premiere

CHANGES

Co-produced by Auckland Arts Festival and Black Grace Dance Company

(Aotearoa/New Zealand & Singapore)

Another letter from earth by Neil Ieremia

Change and Constancy by Kuik Swee Boon

16 – 19 March 2016

SKYCITY Theatre

Auckland Arts Festival 2016 presents Changes, the world premiere of two significant new dance works by visionary choreographers Neil Ieremia (Black Grace, New Zealand) and Kuik Swee Boon (T.H.E Company, Singapore).

An Asia Pacific first, the new works are part of the Asia Pacific Dance Project, an Auckland Arts Festival initiative bringing choreographers from the Asia Pacific Region together to create and present work.

Another letter from earth

Choreographed by Neil Ieremia

Death – the bringer of change, liberator from pain and suffering, a keeper of its own time. Distant and close it touches everyone, brutal and peaceful, quick and slow.

Is it a doorway to rest, nirvana or everlasting life or is it simply the end?

How do we wait for it, how do we accept it when it comes?

Physical, spiritual, the death of curiosity is the death of mind. A sense of belonging is intrinsic to the human spirit; without this, are we culturally dead?

I have watched death reunite those relationships broken by distance and time, bring out the best and the worst in people. Can death truly heal the bruised spirit and the broken heart? Will it bring rest and forgetfulness when it finally comes?

How should I wait?

I will try to wait well.

Black Grace was formed in 1995 by Neil Ieremia, originally with 10 male dancers of Pacific, Maori and New Zealand heritage. Since then Ieremia has changed the face of contemporary dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one of the most recognisable and iconic cultural brands. Since , Neil founded his own company, Black Grace, in 1995, with ten male dancers of iconic cultural brands.

Change and Constancy

Choreographed by Kuik Swee Boon in collaboration with Black Grace

Change and Constancy explores the parallels between Kuik Swee Boon’s Singaporean society and the different cultures, backgrounds, and nationalities of Black Grace’s dancers. Swee Boon’s fluid, evocative movements, often underscored by melancholy, are melded with the raw energy, natural athleticism and spirit of the Black Grace dancers and T.H.E’s Zhuo Zihao and Wu Mi, to deepen an enquiry into society’s tolerance of difference and whether we are mature enough to celebrate diversity.

A talented dancer and outstanding choreographer, Kuik Swee Boon is a local dance pioneer who has revitalised the contemporary dance scene in Singapore. Kuik spent 10 years dancing for the Singapore Dance Theatre and five years with the prestigious Spanish dance troupe Compania Nacional de Danza. He currently helms his own company, The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company.

Kuik Swee Boon is the first international choreographer invited by Neil Ieremia to work with Black Grace – a fitting way to celebrate this groundbreaking dance company’s 20th anniversary.

‘a polished, pungent, bone-crunchingly physical and perfectly executed alchemy of music, muscle and motion’ – NZ Herald ( Black Grace, Nine Verses)

‘The dancers are impeccable’ – The Straits Times ( T.H.E, The Ordinary Man)

SEASON DETAILS: D

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With support from Creative NZ, SKYCITY Theatre, Platinum Patrons Sir Roderick and Gillian, Lady Deane. Auckland Arts Festival is core funded by Auckland Council.

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