Okareka Dance Company's acclaimed Mana Wahine returns

Okareka Dance Company's acclaimed Mana Wahine Return

Okareka Dance Company presents
Mana Wahine

Okareka Dance Company’s acclaimed show Mana Wahine returns to Auckland and Wellington for strictly limited seasons in June.

Mana Wahine features five women performers and was co-choreographed by Okareka’s artistic directors Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete, with Malia Johnston who together create a powerful collage of imagery and movement. It had its premiere in 2014 and toured to 11 New Zealand centres where it met with wide critical and audience acclaim.

“Okareka Dance Company has hit the jackpot with this exploration of the strength, the spirit, the wiles and primal beauty of women, specifically Maori women. Five extreme dancers, three choreographers at the top of their game, a totally in-tune composer, exquisite lighting and audio visual design and a wealth of cultural wisdom come together in one of the best contemporary dance performances we have seen in years” – Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald

Mana Wahine will be performed at Q Theatre in Auckland from 7-11 June, and at Circa Theatre in Wellington from 21-25 June as part of Kia Mau Festival during Matariki 2016.

The true story of Te Aokapurangi, a young maiden from Mokoia Island, influences the story line of this production. She was captured in battle by a tribe from the far north. Many years later she returned and single handedly saved her people from slaughter. Te Aokapurangi has been the pivotal inspiration behind this work. The story of her courage, determination and fearlessness provides Okareka with the challenge to create a vision of strength that empowers women around the world.

“Mana Wahine is above all a rich fusion of choreography, music, Tikanga Maori, performance practices, AV, lighting and performance design… Enriched and enlivened by the dancing of five powerhouse performers.” – Raewyn White, Theatreview

Mana Wahine was recently showcased at the Australian Performing Arts Market as part of the World Theatre Festival where the performance met with standing ovations from the 600 international delegate. Mana Wahine has since been booked for a four-venue tour in Hawaii, a six-centre tour of The Netherlands and is currently finding dates for requested Canadian, UK and Australian performances.

“Okareka Dance Company is a taonga. Its works are treasures to be savoured, thought about and remembered long after the production is over. Mana Wahine resembles a collage made from the fabric of women’s lives. It celebrates their strength, their stamina, their playfulness, their maternal instinct and their physical and spiritual beauty.” – Ann Hunt, Dominion-Post

Okareka Dance Company’s Mana Wahine is at Q Theatre, Auckland from 7-11 June with tickets available online at www.qtheatre.co.nz or phone (09) 309 9771; and at Circa Theatre, Wellington as part of Kia Mau Festival 2016 from 21-25 June with tickets available through www.circa.co.nz or phone (04) 801 7992. For more details visit www.okareka.com

ENDS

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