Tue, 1 Mar 2005
Dancers Act and Actors Dance in Pegasus Moon
The 'Moon' section
Pegasus Moon brings together in collaboration the contemporary dancers of the New Zealand School of Dance and second
year actors and entertainment technology students at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. The grace and power of horses will
be harnessed in one exhilarating piece of physical theatre while a second spine-tingling work will evoke the beauty and
magnetism of the moon.
Taking their cue from mythology and symbolism the students are developing a movement vocabulary with experienced
professionals - half are working with Wendy Wallace and Tom McCrory, while Jude Gibson and Paula Steeds-Huston lead the
other students.
The "Moon" section of Pegasus Moon looks at what would happen if we gave ourselves over to the moon and allowed
ourselves to once again stand in its luminous shadows, and feel the mysterious stirrings of our flesh and feelings.
"For most of human history we have celebrated and worshipped the moon, created marvellous rituals to praise it, and
wondered at its beauty," said Jude Gibson, Co-director of Pegasus Moon.
"Today, apart from sending a flag and 12 pairs of male human feet to stand on it, we barely give it a second thought,
never mind a second glance. These days we only find it marvellous when we realise that it would take 135 days of driving
for a car to reach the moon."
"In the "Pegasus" work we are inspired by detailed observation of horses in different conditions to draw strong
parallels between its behaviour and our own," said Tom McCrory, Co-director of Pegasus Moon.
"From the confined desperation of the horse in the stalls, to the behaviour of conflict, herding and courtship the
resonances are strong. On the emotional and spiritual levels we will reveal the strong way that the image of the horse
speaks so eloquently of our own sense of reined yearning and need for thundering release."
The collaboration between Toi Whakaari and the NZ School of Dance has been an annual occurrence since 2001 (although
there was no public performance in 2004) and brings the students of the Schools together for a performance where the
dancers act and the actors dance. They are supported in their work by second year entertainment technology students who
will design the lighting and sound for the show.
What: Pegasus Moon - Collaboration 2005 When: 8pm, 11-12, 15-19 March and 2pm only, 13 March (no show 14 March) Where:
Te Whaea Theatre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown Cost: $12/$10 Friends of Te Whaea & Concessions - $2 off regular ticket price with a flier Book: 04 389 9056 (automated line)
ENDS