Rongo Whakapā, the debut choreographic work by Brydie Colquhoun (Ngāpuhi), one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most captivating Māori contemporary dance artists, invites audiences to slow down, witness and connect.
In an intimate environment, six dancers respond to each other and a shifting space while exploring tensions between individualism and community through entrancing movement, immersive sound design by Eden Mulholland and distinctive spatial design by Rowan Pierce.
Shaped by Brydie’s extensive embodied knowledge and whakapapa of movement practice as both a practitioner and teacher, Rongo Whakapā, meaning “sense of touch,” proposes new, or perhaps old, ways of gathering and encountering.
Atamira Dance Company is honoured to support this significant milestone in the evolving landscape of Māori contemporary dance. Having premiered in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland July 2025, Rongo Whakapā will tour to Whangārei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia.
Audience Response Evening
For one special evening performance — one night only — the public was invited to not only watch, but respond. Artists, photographers, poets, life drawers, and anyone curious were welcome to bring something to draw, write, or capture with and respond as the work unfolds, or simply sit back and experience it.
This audience-response evening was being trialled for the first time on the Te Tai Tokerau Tour of Rongo Whakapā.
WARNING
Flashing lights / strobe, haze
