Media Release 4 November 2005
Culture Moves! Tahi And Culture Moves! Rua - Two Spectacular Pacific Dance Showcase Performances at Te Papa
International conference Culture Moves! Dance in Oceania from hiva to hip hop is proud to present Culture Moves! Tahi
and Culture Moves! Rua, two vibrant and exciting Pacific dance showcases featuring traditional, contemporary, hip hop,
dance theatre and comedy performances on stage at Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre, 10-11 November.
Performances for Culture Moves! Tahi include contemporary Mäori group Atamira Dance Collective choreographed by Louise
Potiki Bryant, Fine Day Productions directed by Siaosi Mulipola, Taumata Whitireia Pasifika Dance Company choreographed
by Falani Kalolo, the Oceania Dance Theatre based in Suva, Fiji, directed by Allan Alo, a fashion and dance extravaganza
with the Auckland based Island Divas, Inetnon Gef Pago performance group all the way from Guam, Tau Dance Theatre
director Peter Espiritu, the RAPA Dance Collective directed by Moss Patterson and Sue Cheesman, the Wellington Kiribati
Community Club, and international popping and locking sensation SugaPop with funk style disciples Future, Soulahhhh,
Cisco and Mase.
Culture Moves! Rua features KaUaTuahine Polynesian Dance Company from California, Michael Lanakila Casupang’s Pupukahi I
Ke Alo O Na Pua hula halau from the Mid-Pacific Institute of the Arts in Honolulu, Sunameke Pacific Island Performance
based in Darwin and directed by Julia Gray, RAPA Dance Collective choreographed by Junior Ropati, Whitireia Performing
Arts choreographed by Tuaine Robati, the Stepkingz crew and Common Ground b-boy and b-girl group battle, the Nyian Dance
Company based in Noumea, New Caledonia, Tau Dance Theatre from Honolulu, the Tokelau Hutt Valley Sports and Culture
Association, Wellington College Polynesian Club and special guests Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepuleai of the Laughing
Samoans.
The showcase nights are open to the public and are part of Culture Moves! Dance in Oceania from hiva to hip hop, an
international conference exploring the importance of dance to the survival of cultures in Oceania. The conference
includes local and international scholars, choreographers, musicians and museum specialists, master classes by Neil
Ieremia, of New Zealand’s acclaimed Black Grace dance troupe, and Suga Pop, from the Electric Boogaloos, and
performances. Te Papa’s exhibition Culture Moves: Dance costumes of the Pacific also celebrates dance through a display
of traditional and contemporary dance and dance costumes.
The conference and showcase nights have been organised by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Victoria University’s
Pacific Studies Programme, and the Centre for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai’i at Mänoa, with
additional support from the University of Hawai’i, Creative New Zealand, the Pacific Co-operation Foundation, Te Whaea:
National Dance and Drama Centre, and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.
Culture Moves! Pacific Dance Showcase Performances
Culture Moves! Tahi Thursday 10 November, 7.30-10pm.
Culture Moves! Rua Friday 11 November, 7.30-10pm.
Soundings Theatre, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tickets available from Ticketek NZ at (04) 384 3840 or http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/
For more information and to register for the conference visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/cpis/dance or www.tepapa.govt.nz
ENDS