World Premiere
CHANGES
Co-produced by Auckland Arts Festival and Black Grace Dance Company
(Aotearoa/New Zealand & Singapore)
Another letter from earth by Neil Ieremia
Change and Constancy by Kuik Swee Boon
16 – 19 March 2016
SKYCITY Theatre
Auckland Arts Festival 2016 presents Changes, the world premiere of two significant new dance works by visionary choreographers Neil Ieremia (Black Grace, New
Zealand) and Kuik Swee Boon (T.H.E Company, Singapore).
An Asia Pacific first, the new works are part of the Asia Pacific Dance Project, an Auckland Arts Festival initiative
bringing choreographers from the Asia Pacific Region together to create and present work.
Another letter from earth
Choreographed by Neil Ieremia
Death – the bringer of change, liberator from pain and suffering, a keeper of its own time. Distant and close it touches
everyone, brutal and peaceful, quick and slow.
Is it a doorway to rest, nirvana or everlasting life or is it simply the end?
How do we wait for it, how do we accept it when it comes?
Physical, spiritual, the death of curiosity is the death of mind. A sense of belonging is intrinsic to the human spirit;
without this, are we culturally dead?
I have watched death reunite those relationships broken by distance and time, bring out the best and the worst in
people. Can death truly heal the bruised spirit and the broken heart? Will it bring rest and forgetfulness when it
finally comes?
How should I wait?
I will try to wait well.
Black Grace was formed in 1995 by Neil Ieremia, originally with 10 male dancers of Pacific, Maori and New Zealand
heritage. Since then Ieremia has changed the face of contemporary dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one
of the most recognisable and iconic cultural brands. Since , Neil founded his own company, Black Grace, in 1995, with
ten male dancers of iconic cultural brands.
Change and Constancy
Choreographed by Kuik Swee Boon in collaboration with Black Grace
Change and Constancy explores the parallels between Kuik Swee Boon’s Singaporean society and the different cultures, backgrounds, and
nationalities of Black Grace’s dancers. Swee Boon’s fluid, evocative movements, often underscored by melancholy, are
melded with the raw energy, natural athleticism and spirit of the Black Grace dancers and T.H.E’s Zhuo Zihao and Wu Mi,
to deepen an enquiry into society’s tolerance of difference and whether we are mature enough to celebrate diversity.
A talented dancer and outstanding choreographer, Kuik Swee Boon is a local dance pioneer who has revitalised the
contemporary dance scene in Singapore. Kuik spent 10 years dancing for the Singapore Dance Theatre and five years with
the prestigious Spanish dance troupe Compania Nacional de Danza. He currently helms his own company, The Human
Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company.
Kuik Swee Boon is the first international choreographer invited by Neil Ieremia to work with Black Grace – a fitting way
to celebrate this groundbreaking dance company’s 20th anniversary.
‘a polished, pungent, bone-crunchingly physical and perfectly executed alchemy of music, muscle and motion’ – NZ Herald
( Black Grace, Nine Verses)
‘The dancers are impeccable’ – The Straits Times ( T.H.E, The Ordinary Man)
SEASON DETAILS: D
EShowChanges WhereSKYCITY TheatreWhen16 March – 17 March, 7:00PM; 18 March, 6:30PM; 19 March, 8:00PMDuration1hr 10mins no intervalPriceA Res $59; A Res Friend/Conc/Group $53; B Res $45; B Res Friend/Conc/Group $39BookingsBook at Ticketmaster outlets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz/ P: 09 970 9700 or 0800 111 999Informationwww.aaf.co.nzImageshttps://www.dropbox.com/sh/qqdwq4aqy71aowa/AAABVmj1WITpbcZBUZd5i2dDa?dl=0Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeFOlZuyqTk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEKZ0S5aeo4Social Media facebook.com/Aklfestival
@AklfestivalMedia enquiriesMeredith McGrath, PR & Media Manager, Auckland Arts Festival
P: +64 (0)9 3740317 M:+64 (0)27 4473247 Meredith.mcgrath@aaf.co.nz
With support from Creative NZ, SKYCITY Theatre, Platinum Patrons Sir Roderick and Gillian, Lady Deane. Auckland Arts
Festival is core funded by Auckland Council.
ends