The founders of dynamic Kia Mau and Pacific Dance New Zealand Festivals
This month welcomes two contemporary indigenous performing arts festivals which have established themselves as cornerstones of the presentation of new work from Aotearoa and across the Pacific. Deeply embedded in the scene they are leaders in premiering exciting new works, developing our Pacific talent and bringing artists from across Te-Moana-a-kiwa together.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has for 15 years hosted the Pacific Dance Festival. It's the work of the Pacific Islands Dance Fono Trust, who champion the growth and visibility of Pacific dance in Aotearoa. The festival opened last night at Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku,.and runs through till June 19.
In Pōneke, Wellington Kia Mau Festival is now 10 years old and this year has a diverse programme of 28 performing arts works. It opened last weekend and runs through until June 14.
Susana Leia'taua with
Culture101
welcomes the founders and artistic directors of both festivals for talanoa: from Kia Mau, Hone Kouka and Mīria George, and from Pacific Dance New Zealand Iosefa Enari.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rotorua school girl juggles rehersals, roadtrips in Annie role
11 year old Rotorua schoolgirl Gracie Bradley has won the lead role in Auckland Theatre company's production of Annie. She's one of three young starlets filling the role. Now she is juggling school and commuting to Auckland for rehearsals at least three times a week before the show opens later this month at the Bruce Mason theatre. Gracie Bradley spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Does the underground still exist? A conversation with Samuel Te Kani
Does an underground still exist? Or is it just one more consumer choice in an ever growing banquet of ticketed events? Testing this may be Tāmaki Makarau's biennial Festival of Live Arts (FOLA) , at the Basement Theatre from June 11 to 15. The festival dubs itself the black sheep of the Auckland festival family and "a haven for misfits, punks and menaces of the art world". Indeed, in an accompanying media release artistic directors Nisha Madhan and Julia Croft state that "neoliberal and capitalist structures have failed to create space for Live Art, and artists in general". Someone never shy to comment, Samuel Te Kani has two projects as part of FOLA. Of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Porou, Te Kani is an art critic, thinker, erotic science fiction author, filmmaker and a self-described K Road icon. Firstly, online from Wednesday he is reshowing a video essay, Surviving the Necropolis: an artists guide and then on Friday is a free live event with his cohost on podcast Rats in the Gutter , comedian Johanna Cosgrove. The Devil Wears Rats sees the pair provide a live commentary for a screening of the major motion picture The Devil Wears Prada . Mark Amery spoke to Samuel Te Kani.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Emptying the junk drawer: What is Junk Fest?
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Junk Fest is an alternative music festival in Auckland Photo: Patrick Hickley Junk Fest is an alternative music festival in Auckland. It's in its second year, having sold out in 2024. Among a host of Aotearoa and Australian acts, the line-up includes Flying Nun's Office Dog, who toured the States in October 2024, Vera Ellen, who was a finalist for Best Alternative Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards and Ringlets, whose new album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is set to release later this month. Kara Rickard caught up with Lara Marie, organiser of Junk Fest and founder of live music agency Junkmail.
