Atamira Dance Company presents Te Houhi

Overview

Concrete Playground has two double passes to giveaway to the opening night of Te Houhi. Simply email [email protected] with subject: TE HOUHI to go in the draw. Winners will be drawn on Tuesday, September 20 2011.

As part of the REAL NZ Festival, dance production Te Houhi headlines The Q Season of Maori Dance and Theatre, alongside Tawata Productions and Taki Rua Theatre.

Te Houhi is inspired by the tribal history of its choreographer Maaka Pepene, an ex-NZ Army soldier of Tuhoe descent.  The production, three years in the making, tells the story of the historical event that saw 14,000 acres of prime land fraudulently acquired by two Pakeha in the late 1800s, which resulted in the eviction of the local people.

Deep in the Uruweras, Maori prophet Te Kooti found refuge for his people.  Labelled rebels for harbouring Te Kooti, the people suffered land confiscation, scorched Earth military tactics, and war, leaving Tuhoe land ravaged, the people dispossessed.

When the tribe was evicted, their marae was confiscated.  When the government intervened in 1908 and agreed to return the wharenui to the people by paying for its transportation back to the original site, they declined and instead banded together and carried their whare home with their bare hands.

With such a dramatic story line, the production promises to be powerful and visually spectacular.

Michael Parmenter is the choreographic mentor to Pepene, with audio visuals by Tui award winner Louise Potiki Bryant , music score by Paddy Free of Pitch Black and lighting design by Vanda Karolczak.

Te Houhi will capture the spirit of the Urewera mountains where ‘lightening comes to play, Taniwha roam, and waterfalls speak’.

This star studded design team will be joined by international sound collaborator Stephen Hussey (Urban Soul Orchestra, UK), renowned set designer John Verryt and costumes from fashion label MARAMA, designed and printed by Tracey Lloydd. The team of dancers include Taiaroa Royal, Taane Mete, Jack Gray, Kelly Nash, Jason Moore and Justine Hohaia.