The Art of Black Grace 1/5
“I wanted the audience to experience what it’s like being in the middle of a dance” Black Grace founder and artistic director, Neil Ieremia
Enter the new digital universe of The Art of Black Grace – a portable 360 degree, 15 meter diameter by 6 meter high ‘cylindrical structure’ situated in Auckland’s Karanga Plaza, Wynyard Quarter.
Designed so the audience feels as if they are within a sensory show, the visuals and sounds are displayed on 288sqm of LED panels.
“The mobile LED panel screens give you the feeling that you are completely immersed in the space - it’s like your own stage and you’re part of it, from the breathing to the sweating to the movement and the focus. Dancers come running out and charge at you”
Iconic Black Grace dance pieces from the company’s archive have been re created on film and now live another larger than life on these digital screens.
The piece is a semi autobiographical journey, with historic nz social history moments including references to Bastion Point, the infamous Spring Bok tour and the Dawn Raids.
Developed over the last few years due to the impact of Covid, the work can travel without the dancers in a Covid response - allowing the world to see Black Grace remotely.
“There’s something really beautiful about the communal nature of watching something together - that’s the beauty of art, and this lets you feel a part of the actual work. It’s an investment for our future” says Neil Ieremia.
“We’ve had some great collaborators - the music for example has come from the Black Grace archive of music made for past dance pieces from artists like Annonymous, Creek Boys Manual Bundy and Submariner - the graphics were made by Ant Sang of Brotown fame.”
Neil Ieremia says, “The Art of Black Grace speaks directly to our purpose, to create world-class experiences in Pacific Contemporary Dance; and our vision, to create transformational dance experiences of the highest calibre that represent our unique place in the Pacific.
Our ultimate goal is to have multiple displays in different locations across the globe at one time – one has to dream big”.
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The work was funded by CNZ’s Covid adaptation fund
WHAT: THE ART OF BLACK GRACE 1/5
WHERE: Auckland, Karanga Plaza, Wynyard Quarter
WHEN: Sunday, 20 Nov – Saturday 10 Dec
Session times every half hour: -
Sunday, November 20 - 11am – 5pm
Mondays - Tuesdays 6pm - 8.30pm
**Tickets $20.00 – booking fee will apply