Rongo Whakapā
Choreographed by Brydie Colquhoun
11 – 13 July 2025
Te Pou Theatre
Choreographed by Brydie Colquhoun
11 – 13 July 2025
Te Pou Theatre
“There are many moments I feel my dancing spine enjoying the current of the dancers’ vibes…”
Claire O’Neil, Theatreview
Claire O’Neil, Theatreview
“Sometimes, performance outcomes are a shimmer of the deeper connections being made during the making.”
Claire O’Neil, Theatreview
Claire O’Neil, Theatreview
Rongo Whakapā is the debut choreographic work by Brydie Colquhoun, one of Aotearoa’s most captivating Māori contemporary dance artists. In a time of disconnection, we’re invited into a shared, intimate space. Dancers and audiences move freely, exploring presence, connection, and the tension between individualism and collective community.
Show Image Photography: Andi Crown
KA MUA KA MURI
Kua tutuki pai te kaupapa!
Kua tutuki pai te kaupapa!
Presented in Pōneke by KIA MAU Festival and supported by Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival in Rotorua. Funded by Creative New Zealand, Foundation North and the Rotorua Civic Arts trust.
A huge thank you to Kia Mau Festival for their unwavering support in bringing Atamira to Te Whanganui a Tara and The Opera House — an Indigenous-led and programmed festival that places Indigenous voices, stories, and creativity at its very heart. We are grateful to the national and international arts communities who showed up in support.
From there, we travelled to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre in Rotorua. What an absolute honour to perform in a whare filled with a primarily Māori audience — a warm, generous crowd whose energy and response reminded us why we do what we do. It’s that connection with our audiences that fuels and sustains us.
So proud of the entire team, who give their all! Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri — it truly does take a village!
Bianca Hyslop
Kaihautū
From there, we travelled to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre in Rotorua. What an absolute honour to perform in a whare filled with a primarily Māori audience — a warm, generous crowd whose energy and response reminded us why we do what we do. It’s that connection with our audiences that fuels and sustains us.
So proud of the entire team, who give their all! Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri — it truly does take a village!
Bianca Hyslop
Kaihautū
Images captured by Roc Torio, supplied by Kia Mau Festival
Atamira returned to the Due Drop Event Centre for Kori Pūrākau, our biannual workshop programme held on 26–28 May 2025. Over three inspiring days, students explored the choreography and storytelling through dance and movement. Ngā mihi to all the incredible tauira who brought their energy, creativity, and wairua to the space – we loved moving with you!
A special mihi to our wonderful facilitators Gabrielle Thomas, Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann, Dana Moore-Mudgway and Andre Busby!
A special mihi to our wonderful facilitators Gabrielle Thomas, Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann, Dana Moore-Mudgway and Andre Busby!
"It was really nice to see tauira who don't usually participate in movement activities in school, thrive in the workshop provided by Atamira Dance Company." - Ayoshe Rogers, Teacher, Mayfield Primary School
"It was such a great workshop. All of our 56 students were buzzing and would do it again." - Kelly Barnett, Teacher, Rosehill Intermediate School
"It was such a great workshop. All of our 56 students were buzzing and would do it again." - Kelly Barnett, Teacher, Rosehill Intermediate School
Ka Tiri o te Moana
Atamira Dance Company is honoured to have received the 2024 Track Zero – Arts Inspiring Climate Action grant. This prestigious $30k award was selected from a competitive pool of performing arts organisations and artists invited to apply in late 2024.
As a result Atamira were proud to commission Louise Pōtiki Bryant, a founding member of Atamira, to create Ka Tiri o te Moana. Louise’s work is deeply connected to te Taiao (the natural world) and the Moana (ocean), and her passionate advocacy for transforming Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into contemporary art forms was integral to this project.
As a result Atamira were proud to commission Louise Pōtiki Bryant, a founding member of Atamira, to create Ka Tiri o te Moana. Louise’s work is deeply connected to te Taiao (the natural world) and the Moana (ocean), and her passionate advocacy for transforming Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into contemporary art forms was integral to this project.
Track Zero has long been instrumental in fostering collaboration between artists, scientists, and organisations, providing platforms that have inspired meaningful climate action for years. Their dedication to sparking vital conversations about climate change has been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful to contribute to their legacy.
Tēnei te mihi nunui ki a koutou te whānau o Track Zero for your crucial support. We look forward to continuing to use our art as a catalyst for positive change and climate action.
Tēnei te mihi nunui ki a koutou te whānau o Track Zero for your crucial support. We look forward to continuing to use our art as a catalyst for positive change and climate action.
Auckland Premiere
Summer on Queens Wharf
Friday 7 March | 8:30pm
Queens Wharf
FREE EVENT
Photography: Jinki Cambronero
Summer on Queens Wharf
Friday 7 March | 8:30pm
Queens Wharf
FREE EVENT
Photography: Jinki Cambronero