Atamira Dance Company grew from a desire of Jack Gray to build on the continuum of Māori contemporary dance to empower urban Māori by providing a platform for their stories and visions. He invited fellow Māori choreographer / dancers Dolina Wehipeihana, Louise Potiki Bryant and Justine Hohaia to join him on the journey, and Atamira was formed as a collective of Māori dance artists in 2000.
2025
Rongo Whakapā Premiere
Choreographed by Brydie Colquhoun
Choreographed by Brydie Colquhoun
Ka Mua Ka Muri Tour
Kia Mau 2025 & Rotorua
Choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
Kia Mau 2025 & Rotorua
Choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
TOMO VR tour to Lutruwita / Tasmania
Ten Days on the Island
Ten Days on the Island
Ashley David appointed as Kaiwhakahaere | General Manager
Ka Tiri o te Moana | Premiere as part of Summer on Queens Wharf
Choreographed by Louise Pōtiki Bryant
Choreographed by Louise Pōtiki Bryant
Concept Development
Bianca Hyslop and Rowan Pierce
Bianca Hyslop and Rowan Pierce
Marama Lloydd appointed as Kaiwhakaputa Auaha | Creative Producer
2024
Bianca Hyslop appointed as Kaihautū
TĀTAI WHETŪ | Three new dance films
Directed by Kelly Nash
Tempo Dance Festival NZ
Directed by Kelly Nash
Tempo Dance Festival NZ
Ka Mua Ka Muri Premiere and Tour
Tāmaki Makaurau & Whangārei
Choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
Tāmaki Makaurau & Whangārei
Choreographed by Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott
International Collaboration
Karul Projects, Thomas E.S. Kelly
Karul Projects, Thomas E.S. Kelly
Choreographic Residency
Kelly Nash
Kelly Nash
TOMO VR Presentations
Māorilands | Ōtaki, Aotearoa
PANNZ Arts Market | Auckland, Aotearoa
Māorilands | Ōtaki, Aotearoa
PANNZ Arts Market | Auckland, Aotearoa
2023
Hou Double Bill Choreographic Development
Bianca Hyslop, Eddie Elliott
Bianca Hyslop, Eddie Elliott
TOMO National Tour
Choreographer | Gabrielle Thomas
Choreographer | Gabrielle Thomas
TE WHEKE USA Tour
Hawai'i, New York, California
Hawai'i, New York, California
TOMO VR Presentations
Matriarchs Uprising | Vancouver, Canada
Doc Edge Film Festival | Aotearoa
Toi Mauri Hauora Hub | Aotearoa
SXSW Sydney | Australia
Matriarchs Uprising | Vancouver, Canada
Doc Edge Film Festival | Aotearoa
Toi Mauri Hauora Hub | Aotearoa
SXSW Sydney | Australia
2022
KIKO
Choreographers | Kelly Nash, Nancy Wijohn, Sean MacDonald, Taane Mete
Choreographers | Kelly Nash, Nancy Wijohn, Sean MacDonald, Taane Mete
TE WHEKE National Tour
Ngāmotu, Heretaunga, Te Papa-i-Oea, Ōtepoti
Ngāmotu, Heretaunga, Te Papa-i-Oea, Ōtepoti
KAHA-TRIPLEBOOST
TOMO VR | Choreographed and co-edited by Gabrielle Thomas with VR filmmaker Ed Davis
STILL | Choreographed by Sean MacDonald
KAHA | Choreographed by Abbie Rogers, Sherrick Martin, Caleb Heke, Oli Mathiesen, Dana Moore-Mudgway
TOMO VR | Choreographed and co-edited by Gabrielle Thomas with VR filmmaker Ed Davis
STILL | Choreographed by Sean MacDonald
KAHA | Choreographed by Abbie Rogers, Sherrick Martin, Caleb Heke, Oli Mathiesen, Dana Moore-Mudgway
2021
Toi Tu Toi Ora
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
TE WHEKE premiere and tour
Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Ōtautahi, Whangārei
Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Ōtautahi, Whangārei
2020
NGĀ WAI
Choreographer | Sean MacDonald
Choreographer | Sean MacDonald
Hou Choreographic Development / Atamira Reimagined
Choreographers | Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Maaka Pepene, Gabrielle Thomas
Choreographers | Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Maaka Pepene, Gabrielle Thomas
2019
TOMO
Choreographer | Gabrielle Thomas
Choreographer | Gabrielle Thomas
ONEPŪ
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
KOTAHI
Choreographers | Frances Rings, Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray
Choreographers | Frances Rings, Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray
2018
Hou Choreographic Development
Choreographers | Bianca Hyslop, Eddie Elliott
Choreographers | Bianca Hyslop, Eddie Elliott
MARAMA Tour to Korea
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Marama Lloydd appointed as Executive Director
2017
ATAMIRA
Choreographer | Kelly Nash
Choreographer | Kelly Nash
AWA
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Jack Gray appointed as Artistic Director
2016
PANGO
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
MANAIA
Choreographers | Nancy Wijohn, Gabrielle Thomas, Kelly Nash
Choreographers | Nancy Wijohn, Gabrielle Thomas, Kelly Nash
2015
MITIMITI
Choreographer | Jack Gray
Choreographer | Jack Gray
Tour
China and Korea
China and Korea
2014
TE MANU AHI
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Hou Choreographic Development
Choreographer | Kelly Nash
Choreographer | Kelly Nash
MOKO
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Partnership
Osborne Shiwan
Osborne Shiwan
2013
KAHA
Jacob's Pillow Festival
Jacob's Pillow Festival
Hou Choreographic Development
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Cathy Livermore, Nancy Wijohn
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Cathy Livermore, Nancy Wijohn
Tour
United States
United States
2012
TOHU
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Moss Patterson
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Moss Patterson
KAHA
10th Festival of Pacific Arts
10th Festival of Pacific Arts
Hou Choreographic Development
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Moss Patterson, Taane Mete
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Moss Patterson, Taane Mete
Governance
Platform reframed as whānau
Atamira becomes CNZ Kahikatea client
Platform reframed as whānau
Atamira becomes CNZ Kahikatea client
2011
Indigenous Choreographic Laboratory
Atamira, Marrugeku
Atamira, Marrugeku
TE HOUHI
Choreographer | Maaka Pepene
Choreographer | Maaka Pepene
Hou Choreographic Development
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Cathy Livermore, Gabrielle Thomas
Choreographers | Jack Gray, Cathy Livermore, Gabrielle Thomas
2010
WHETU
Choreographers | Dolina Wehipeihana, Moss Patterson, Cathy Livermore, Jack Gray, Maaka Pepene, Stephen Bradshaw, Charles Koroneho
Choreographers | Dolina Wehipeihana, Moss Patterson, Cathy Livermore, Jack Gray, Maaka Pepene, Stephen Bradshaw, Charles Koroneho
Appointment
Moss Patterson appointed as General Manager
Moss Patterson appointed as General Manager
2009
TAONGA
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
Tour
Tasmania
Tasmania
2008
MAPUNAPUNA
Choreographers | Maaka Pepene, Jack Gray, Dolina Wehipeihana, Moana Nepia
Choreographers | Maaka Pepene, Jack Gray, Dolina Wehipeihana, Moana Nepia
Tour
Hawaii and New Caledonia
Hawaii and New Caledonia
2007
WHAKAIRO
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Choreographer | Moss Patterson
Symbole et Realitie
Richard Digoue
Richard Digoue
Art on the Beach
Louise Potiki Bryant, Vanda Karolczak
Louise Potiki Bryant, Vanda Karolczak
Governance
Establishment of Atamira Dance Collective Charitable Trust
Establishment of Atamira Dance Collective Charitable Trust
2006
MEMOIRS OF ACTIVE SERVICE
Choreographer | Maaka Pepene
Choreographer | Maaka Pepene
2005
Tour
First National Tour
First National Tour
2004
NGĀI TAHU 32
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
Choreographer | Louise Potiki Bryant
Tour
9th Festival of Pacific Arts
First performance out of Auckland at BATS Theatre
9th Festival of Pacific Arts
First performance out of Auckland at BATS Theatre
2003
Atamira
Stephen Bradshaw, Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray
Stephen Bradshaw, Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray
First Show
Kenneth Maidment Theatre
Kenneth Maidment Theatre
Governance
First Attendance at Conference at PS19
First Attendance at Conference at PS19
2002
Sub-Urban Legends
Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Dolina Wehipeihana
Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Dolina Wehipeihana
Appointment
Dolina Wehipeihana appointmented as Creative Producer
Dolina Wehipeihana appointmented as Creative Producer
Governance
Establishment of the platform
Establishment of the platform
2001
Freshly Minted
Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Anna Macrae
Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray, Anna Macrae
Paepae
Choreographers | Louise Potiki Bryant
Choreographers | Louise Potiki Bryant
2000
Founding of Atamira Dance Collective
Louise Potiki Bryant, Dolina Wehipeihana, Justine Hohaia, Jack Gray
Louise Potiki Bryant, Dolina Wehipeihana, Justine Hohaia, Jack Gray
1999-1972
1995
First tertiary dance festival
Students Jack and Dolina (Unitec) meet Louise (Otago University) and Justine (NZ School of Dance)
First tertiary dance festival
Students Jack and Dolina (Unitec) meet Louise (Otago University) and Justine (NZ School of Dance)
1988
Taiao Dance Company
Founded by Steven Bradshaw
Taiao Dance Company
Founded by Steven Bradshaw
1984
Pioneers of Māori Contemporary Dance
Te Kaniknai o te Rangatahi
Pioneers of Māori Contemporary Dance
Te Kaniknai o te Rangatahi
1984
A Moment
Poi E - first Māori Song to reach number 1
A Moment
Poi E - first Māori Song to reach number 1
1972
Inaugural Polynesian Festival
Inaugural Polynesian Festival