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Mana Wahine on Fresh
AN ALL-FEMALE WORK BY OKAREKA DANCE COMPANY THAT DRAWS STRENGTH FROM TRADITIONAL MĀORI CULTURE TO ILLUSTRATE A TAPESTRY OF DANCE, THEATRE AND FILM.
Taiaroa Royal, Malia Johnston and Taane Mete come together to create a powerful collage of imagery and movement that transcends time and space. Death, life, land and creature inspires the 70min performance that emanates the life force of women. The true story of Te Aokapurangi, a young maiden from Mokoia Island, influences the story line of this production. She was captured in battle by a tribe from the far North. Many years later she returned and single handedly saved her people from slaughter. Te Aokapurangi has been the pivotal inspiration behind this work. The story of her courage, determination and fearlessness provides Okareka with the challenge to create a vision of strength that empowers women around the world. Mana Wahine is a commanding work that will uplift the spiritual status of “the woman” within us all. Premiered June/July 2014.
“Mana Wahine is above all a rich fusion of choreography, music, tikanga Maori and performance practices, AV, lighting and performance design … enriched and enlivened by the dancing of five powerhouse performers.” Raewyn Whyte, Theatreview