Kia hiwa rā! Kia hiwa rā!
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Bianca Hyslop as Kaihautū of Atamira Dance Company.
Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue-kaipapa, Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Pākehā) is a pivotal figure in the Māori contemporary dance landscape, with over fifteen years of impactful contributions that resonate nationally and internationally.
She has danced with esteemed companies including Atamira, The New Zealand Dance Company and Ōkāreka, and her stellar independent practice includes co-creating ‘He Huia Kaimanawa’ and ‘Pōhutu’, with partner and award-winning design artist Rowan Pierce. Bianca has been recognised with a FAME Mid-Career Award, Tup Lang Choreographic Award and the Eileen May Norris Scholarship. Atamira Dance Company has been a foundational pillar in her career, and most recently, Bianca was a co-choreographer for ‘Ka Mua Ka Muri’.
She has danced with esteemed companies including Atamira, The New Zealand Dance Company and Ōkāreka, and her stellar independent practice includes co-creating ‘He Huia Kaimanawa’ and ‘Pōhutu’, with partner and award-winning design artist Rowan Pierce. Bianca has been recognised with a FAME Mid-Career Award, Tup Lang Choreographic Award and the Eileen May Norris Scholarship. Atamira Dance Company has been a foundational pillar in her career, and most recently, Bianca was a co-choreographer for ‘Ka Mua Ka Muri’.
Bianca will begin in the new role of Kaihautū after Labour weekend and lead us into 2025 - our 25th anniversary year!
Directed by Kelly Nash
Tempo Dance Festival NZ
Saturday 12 October | 6pm
Q Theatre - Vault
Tātai Whetū is a constellation of choreographic ideas and movement practices shown via film and live performance by Atamira Dance Company artists with filmmaker and choreographer Kelly Nash. These works speak to bringing people together with different creative strengths to connect and express in the world of Te Ao Māori. The evening will be staged to create discussion and responsiveness from the audience around the artistic practices of the works presented.
Tempo Dance Festival NZ
Saturday 12 October | 6pm
Q Theatre - Vault
Tātai Whetū is a constellation of choreographic ideas and movement practices shown via film and live performance by Atamira Dance Company artists with filmmaker and choreographer Kelly Nash. These works speak to bringing people together with different creative strengths to connect and express in the world of Te Ao Māori. The evening will be staged to create discussion and responsiveness from the audience around the artistic practices of the works presented.
Atamira Dance Company is a platform where Te Ao Māori and dance converge, bringing mātauranga Māori, whakapapa, and stories to life through creative expression and movement.
Kelly Nash has been an integral member of Atamira Dance Company since 2006 as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, healer, artistic manager and rehearsal director. She thrives in diverse, cross-cultural spaces, merging her expertise in somatic practices, mentoring and artistic direction/management. Her films have been selected for multiple Film Festivals nationally and internationally and she has also received several awards including “Best First Time Director” from Japan International Film Festival, Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival, Munich New Wave short film festival and Seoul International Short Film Festival.
Kelly Nash has been an integral member of Atamira Dance Company since 2006 as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, healer, artistic manager and rehearsal director. She thrives in diverse, cross-cultural spaces, merging her expertise in somatic practices, mentoring and artistic direction/management. Her films have been selected for multiple Film Festivals nationally and internationally and she has also received several awards including “Best First Time Director” from Japan International Film Festival, Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival, Munich New Wave short film festival and Seoul International Short Film Festival.
Images captured by Andi Crown and Jinki Cambronero
Join Atamira dance artists at Te Pou Theatre to come together and explore the theme of ‘Stories of Place’.
This hui - presented by Tempo Dance Festival Te Rerenga o Tere, is a space to kōrero, connect, and create through movement and will be facilitated by Kelly Nash - director and choreographer of Tātai Whetū and Atamira kaikanikani Abbie Rogers, Caleb Heke and Madi Tumataroa.
This hui - presented by Tempo Dance Festival Te Rerenga o Tere, is a space to kōrero, connect, and create through movement and will be facilitated by Kelly Nash - director and choreographer of Tātai Whetū and Atamira kaikanikani Abbie Rogers, Caleb Heke and Madi Tumataroa.
Tuesday 15 October
10am-2pm
Te Pou Theatre
10am-2pm
Te Pou Theatre
Check out the other hui Tempo are presenting:
Monday 14 October | 6:30pm-10pm
Pacific Dance New Zealand at The Factory Theatre, Onehunga
Wednesday 16 October | 10am-2pm
Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries at the University of Auckland
Monday 14 October | 6:30pm-10pm
Pacific Dance New Zealand at The Factory Theatre, Onehunga
Wednesday 16 October | 10am-2pm
Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries at the University of Auckland
KA MUA KA MURI
New double bill choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
New double bill choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
2024 Premiere
25 - 27 July
Q Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau
22 August
Forum North, Whangārei
25 - 27 July
Q Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau
22 August
Forum North, Whangārei
Atamira Dance Company encompasses and uplifts the voices of acclaimed choreographers and long-time collaborators, Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott in this unique and powerful double bill KA MUA KA MURI.
Derived from and inspired by, the whakatauki Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, KA MUA KA MURI relates to Māori perspectives of time where the past, present and the future are intertwined, offering a contemporary dance experience that explores both the significance of whakapapa while defining new aspirations for the future.
Derived from and inspired by, the whakatauki Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, KA MUA KA MURI relates to Māori perspectives of time where the past, present and the future are intertwined, offering a contemporary dance experience that explores both the significance of whakapapa while defining new aspirations for the future.
Whakamaheahea by Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa) showcases urban Māori experiences by transcending loss-based narratives, embracing multifaceted identities that encompass divine, ancestral, and human elements, and weaving stories of empowerment, transformation, and resilience to inspire a brighter collective future.
Remain by Eddie Elliott (Ngāti Maniapoto) explores the continuity and vitality of whakapapa, tikanga, and a deep connection to Tūpuna, emphasizing the importance of preserving these cultural foundations to honor the past, understand the present, and shape a promising future for rangatahi
Images captured by Sacha Stejko and Andi Crown Photography
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Karul Projects
March 2024
Karul Projects
March 2024
Next week we are thrilled to have Thomas E.S. Kelly from Karul Projects (Australia) in the studio for a cross cultural company collaboration.
DANCE ARTISTS
Olivia Adams
Glory Tuohy-Daniell
Madi Tumataroa
Caleb Heke
Tai Taranui Hemana
Oli Mathiesen
DANCE ARTISTS
Olivia Adams
Glory Tuohy-Daniell
Madi Tumataroa
Caleb Heke
Tai Taranui Hemana
Oli Mathiesen
Thomas is a proud Minjungbal-Yugambeh, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu man.
Thomas graduated in 2012 from NAISDA Dance College and has since worked with Vicki Van Hout, Shaun Parker and Company, Branch Nebula, ERTH, Chunky Move, Dancenorth, The FARM, Tasdance, Outer Urban Projects, GUTS and Urban Theatre Projects.
His choreographic credits include his Green Room Award winning work [MIS]CONCEIVE, CO_EX_EN, SILENCE, WEREDINGO and KURAMANUNYA. His works have toured nationally and nationally.
Thomas creates work that explores high intensity physical works stemming from a cultural practice fused with contemporary which incorporates voice and physical percussion. Thomas creates work that reveals subject matters that offers an opportunity to learn and develop. Remembering the past to better understand the present so we can move forward into the future.
In 2017 Thomas co-created Karul Projects. A new company led by new First Nation voices telling new stories. Karul Projects is situated in South East Qld and Northern NSW, Australia.
Thomas graduated in 2012 from NAISDA Dance College and has since worked with Vicki Van Hout, Shaun Parker and Company, Branch Nebula, ERTH, Chunky Move, Dancenorth, The FARM, Tasdance, Outer Urban Projects, GUTS and Urban Theatre Projects.
His choreographic credits include his Green Room Award winning work [MIS]CONCEIVE, CO_EX_EN, SILENCE, WEREDINGO and KURAMANUNYA. His works have toured nationally and nationally.
Thomas creates work that explores high intensity physical works stemming from a cultural practice fused with contemporary which incorporates voice and physical percussion. Thomas creates work that reveals subject matters that offers an opportunity to learn and develop. Remembering the past to better understand the present so we can move forward into the future.
In 2017 Thomas co-created Karul Projects. A new company led by new First Nation voices telling new stories. Karul Projects is situated in South East Qld and Northern NSW, Australia.
Images supplied by Thomas E.S Kelly, photographed by Jimblah, Shannon Hayes and Tiffany Garvie
CHOREOGRAPHIC RESIDENCY
Kelly Nash
March 2024
Kelly Nash
March 2024
For the two weeks in February 2024 Kelly Nash, Interim Artistic Manager and mana wahine, has been in choreographic residency exploring different provocations with 5 dance collaborators; Matiu Hamuera, Caleb Heke, Madi Tumataroa, Tai Taranui Hemana, Oli Mathiesen and secondment student from NZSD Sophie Sheaf-Morrison.
Kia mai ki te aka matua, kei mau ki te aka tāepa
Hold the vine rooted in the ground, not the vine hanging from the heavens.
This residency focused on letting the body’s connection to nature be the driving force in decision making; creating a depth of thinking and depth of being in our performance state, resting and slowing down as a form of anti capitalism and anti patriarchy and stepping into the timelessness, the rhythm of nature and our surroundings, nature as matrilineal.
The residency concluded on Friday with a showing open to Corban Estate resident artists outside on the beautiful whenua.
Kia mai ki te aka matua, kei mau ki te aka tāepa
Hold the vine rooted in the ground, not the vine hanging from the heavens.
This residency focused on letting the body’s connection to nature be the driving force in decision making; creating a depth of thinking and depth of being in our performance state, resting and slowing down as a form of anti capitalism and anti patriarchy and stepping into the timelessness, the rhythm of nature and our surroundings, nature as matrilineal.
The residency concluded on Friday with a showing open to Corban Estate resident artists outside on the beautiful whenua.
Images captured by Kelly Nash