Heliaki to spark NZ dance scene afire
New Zealand's first Tongan contemporary dance-theatre show, featuring two up-and-coming choreographers, is set to spark
New Zealand's dance scene afire with stories and movement never before experienced on our shores.
The choreographers, Sesilia Pusiaki and Amanaki Prescott-Faletau bring together two very different, innovative and
captivating new works in the double-bill show Heliaki, encompassing contemporary and Tongan dance, physical theatre,
drama, music and song. As graduates of the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, Pusiaki and Prescott-Faletau are
quickly establishing themselves as choreographers to watch out for - look them up!
In Heliaki both inspire and push boundaries by taking treasured elements of ancient Tongan dance to form original,
artistic expressions of their experiences as young Tongans growing up in New Zealand today. They give the general public
an inside peek into the private world of two Tongan groups that are rarely heard from - women and fakaleiti (Tongan
transgender).
Pusiaki's Sei 'o Fafine is an authentic, yet hilarious, portrayal of Tongan women's self-perceptions and Tongan
society's perceptions and expectations of Tongan women. In Fanau Tangata Prescott-Faletau tells his moving and powerful
story about growing up as a fakaleiti (transgender) in an all-male, traditional Tongan and Christian household with his
father, a church minister, and grandfather, his only support.
Produced by LIMA Productions, and previewed in February at the Mangere Arts Centre, Heliaki will resonate beyond the
Tongan communities to Pasifika, transgender and dance audiences across the public spectrum.
Heliaki will show from the 26th to 28th of September at Auckland's Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku as part of
the 'Matala - A Celebration of Tongan Culture’ festival.
LIMA Productions presents
Heliaki
Wednesday 26th & Friday 28 September, 12:30pm & 6:30pm
Thursday 27th September, 2pm & 8pm
Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku
Corner of Orly Avenue and Bader Drive, Mangere, Auckland
$10 unwaged / $15 waged
Group discounts available.
Booking enquiries: lima.dancetheatre@gmail.com
Show duration: 70 mins
ENDS