01-06-2025
Australian first nations performance comes to Festivals
This next fortnight sees the visit of indigenous performers to Aotearoa from across Te Moana Nui a kiwa -the Pacific Ocean. They are presenting works at two established contemporary festivals - Pacific Dance New Zealand in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, and Kia Mau in Poneke Wellington. These festvials are also providing a special opportunity to bring together in Aotearoa First Nations performance from Australia. Performance has a long political and storytelling history in Australia. Over at least 65,000 years with 100s of tribes and languages, stories have been passed down. And the contemporary scene is equally diverse, and alive to future potentials and the opportunities of the present. Joining Culture 101 arethree artists from three different Pacific connected states. In Naarm Melbourne a member of collective A Daylight Connection, Carly Sheppard of the Wallangamma and Takalaka Tribes of Northern Queensland. From Wiradjuri country in New South Wales Vicki Van Hout and from Burleigh Heads, Minjungbal, Wiradjuri and Ni-vanuatu dancer Thomas ES Kelly of Karul Projects. Thomas ES Kelly's Kuramanunya is at Te Pou theatre in Tamaki Makaurau 8-9 June as part of Pacific Dance New Zealand Festival.
