Two of New Zealand's best-known and highly acclaimed Takataapui dancers are set to launch their new company Okareka Dance Company with a premiere performance at Tempo New Zealand Festival of Dance this October.
Presented as a five act autobiographical dance journey; each segment of Okareka Dance Company's new production Tama Ma will be choreographed by a renowned New Zealand choreographer and powerfully performed by Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal. The distinguished Douglas Wright choreographs the seocnd act while the extraordinary talents of Michael Parmenter shape the fourth. This is the first time that the celebrated choreography skills Douglas Wright and Michael Parmenter, who are both openly gay, have ever been presented in the same show.
Tama Ma tells the story of two men who travel from boyhood, to manhood, and the real life tale of love, life, joy and sorrow. The five part act moves from a short dance film projected on stage to a drag queen's journey to femininity and the return back to masculinity. A young boy's connection to his Whanau (family) and Iwi (tribe) and a mature man's ideas of identity are also deeply explored.
Okareka Dance Company was formed in 2007 and led by Mete and Royal, and aims to fuse contemporary dance with other creative art mediums.
Tempo NZ Festival of Dance begins in Auckland on 28 September. More details will shortly be added to the official website linked below.
