Never been a show like this
Taupuhi Toki, Kowhiti’s poster boy.
“This will be the World Cup on stage,” says Wellington dancer and choreographer Tanemahuta Gray, who is co-directing Kowhiti. “It’s a real showcase of contemporary dance and we’re confident there has never been a show like this anywhere else in the world.”
Gray himself is back in the air for Kowhiti, performing his aerial dance Maui: One Man Against the Gods, and Tongo Ma Tane, an aerial duet with German dancer Ivica Novakovic.
Other items include a new solo by Louise Potiki Bryant, contemporary hula from Hawaiian group Pasifika Sway, Samoan dance from the Whitirea Performing Arts Company and Electric Boogaloo from The Star Connection.
Gray says he’s particularly excited Nkosinathi’s Cultural Production a dance company from South Africa is performing. He says they discovered during an internet search. For Nkosinathu Chamo, the 28 year old founder of the dance company, a visit to New Zealand is a rare opportunity.
“We’ve performed throughout South Africa and did a tour of The Netherlands but I never dreamed we’d get to dance in New Zealand,” Chamo says.
Chamo has brought nine dancers from his company to Wellington to show several traditional styles of African dance including Zulu and pantsula, described as a flat footed tap-and-glide style of dance popular among young men and women in the townships of South Africa.
Chamo says he learnt to dance by watching his mother dance Zulu with her friends.
“I learnt to dance on the streets,” he says. “I learn by watching and that’s what I’m looking forward to in New Zealand, watching and learning.”
Also performing is Wellington based boogaloo dancer Future Fame. Fame has been doing boogaloo since 2002 when he met internationally recognised practioner and choreographer Suga Pop, at a workshop in Wellington.
“I guess I grew up with boogaloo,” Fame says. “I saw all the movies and music videos as a young kid in the 80s.”
Fame founded dance group The Star Connection in 2005 with five other dancers, four of whom are now based in Japan, the United States and Australia. Kowhiti will bring all six together again. He says while hip-hop has largely taken on from boogaloo, The Start Connection remains true to the “popping and locking” style of the original.
“We’ve stuck to boogaloo. We’re sentimental and quite passionate about the dance. There’s nothing that it lacks.”
Fame says Kowhiti gives his and other small dance companies the opportunity to perform on the Opera House stage, something too expensive for many small companies.
“There’s a real sense of community among indigenous contemporary dancers throughout the world. Kowhiti will allow us to connect with other artists and perform in a celebration of our ancestors and our stories.”
Kowhiti, The Opera House, September 15-17.
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