Te Wheke

Artistic Director Jack Gray marks the 21 years of Atamira Dance Company with the new collaborative new work Te Wheke.

The work brings together Aotearoa’s leading names in contemporary dance including arts Laureate Louise Potiki Bryant, Dolina Wehipeihana, Taane Mete, Kelly Nash, Gabrielle Thomas, Kura Te Ua and Bianca Hyslop.

These eight choreographic practitioners, with a cast of eight dancers including Sean MacDonald, explore the dimensions of human experience symbolised by the eight tentacles of the Te Wheke— the Octopus, a powerful guardian on this journey from past into future.

Solo and ensemble expressions of darkness and light occur within a shape shifting world of floating black silk. Layers of symbolism emanate through the magical AV patterning and mesmeric soundscapes with lighting enhancing all - both revealing and hiding.

Titiro ki muri, haere whakamua
Look back, move forward.