Powerful dance show for region
Ground-breaking dance company Atamira will weave their way across the North Island to seven venues with Pango.
Bursting with creative talent from some of the best dance, music, spatial and projection artists in New Zealand, Pango
will bring Kiwi audiences a unique fusion of dance, imagery, light and music.
These elements come seamlessly together through the collaboration of renowned dance choreographer Moss Patterson, musicians James Webster and Shayne Carter, along with six of New Zealand’s most powerful male dancers and awardwinning spatial and projection designers.
The highly-acclaimed Pango
was first presented in China and Taiwan in 2016 and the current core of dancers is formed by Luke Hanna, Jeremy Beck, Emmanuel Reynaud, Toa Paranihi, Jared Hemopo and Matiu Hamuera, some of New Zealand’s finest exponents of the art form.
Stripped to the waist, they ignite the stage inside the space of Te Kore, a black rope wharenui created by awardwinning set and spatial designer Robin Rawstorne, to explore their individual experience of Te Kore — the state of unlimited potential.
Moving from haka through lyricism to energised muscularity, their personal stories offer rich commentaries on the humanity within this sacred space. Pango is a multi-sensory meditation on existence through a dance choreographed by Moss Patterson, underpinned by a fascinating combination of live music.
Visceral electric guitar by New Zealand music icon Shayne Carter blends with traditional Ma¯ori instruments by expert player James Webster.
This results in a dramatic mix of soundscapes from which reverberations of ancient karakia and takutaku chant evoke the presence of atua Ma¯ ori.
Moss Patterson has carved a significant career in dance over the last 20 years, working with Black Grace, Footnote and Douglas Wright.
As the founding artistic director of Atamira, he forged new links for dance internationally and recently presenting Marama in Korea.
The recipient of a slew of awards for his innovative choreography, his work was thrust into the public eye when he choreographed the 2011 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony. New Zealand musician Shayne Carter is well known for leading formative band Straitjacket Fits, and he is also celebrated for his work with Dimmer and rock supergroup The Adults.
He’s been inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame and been the recipient of multiple music awards.
A prominent maker and player of taonga pu¯oro, Ma¯ori musical instruments, James Webster has collaborated musically on many projects and has specialised for over 20 years in sculpture and carving bone, stone and wood, painting and is a skilled ta¯moko (Ma¯ori tattoo) artist.
Robin Rawstorne is creative director of Rawstorne studio — a multidisciplinary design studio.
Having previously worked in Europe as a set designer for large scale opera/theatre events and advertising campaigns, he now works within the realms of show direction, exhibition design, experiential installations and architectural dreamscapes for local and international museums, festivals, advertising agencies, gaming companies, theatre, dance and opera companies.
Rowan Pierce is a world-class projection artist who among many other projects, has worked on World of Wearable Arts for many years.
His projections design casts light and imagery onto the dancers’ bodies adding a visual tapestry and opening the imagination to the multi-layered aspects of this work.
Atamira Dance Company is the leading creator and presenter of Ma¯ori contemporary dance theatre in Aotearoa and on the international stage.
Their work embodies a unique landscape shaped by the cultural identity of people and their stories, and connects with audiences by reflecting the personal experiences and worldview of Aotearoa’s Mana Whenua.
Pango opened in Napier over the weekend and heads to Gisborne and Tauranga this week. It comes to Hamilton’s Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts on Tuesday, October 30. Tickets from the venue and www.eventfinda.co.nz, then heads to New Plymouth, Whanga¯ rei and Auckland.