
Drawing on mythology and historical figures set against the backdrop of Te Motu-o-Kura, Ngā Wai is a new full-length dance work from one of Aotearoa’s most distinguished dance artists – Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa)
Seers, shapeshifters, warrior protectors, lovers and thwarted romance from both history and mythology form the essence of this poetic new work inspired from the sacred waters and whakapapa of Waimārama, Sean’s ancestral home in the Hawkes Bay. Ngā Wai is about water and how that flows with everything, is in everything, the pool and flow of the moon and the maternal. It flows with connection, history and strength following the journey of Takitimu (migration waka) from Samoa to Waimārama.

“Waimārama has a very strong feminine energy and this work is designed to hold up mana and respect for the wahine toa of my whakapapa. It has evolved in what has been a crazy year, where I’ve personally aimed to go with the flow and not fight it. You hope that in this, like the whakatuaki “Kia rere te wairere,” the flow goes to places of positivity” says MacDonald.

The multi-faceted characters resurrected from tribal history to tell the tale of Ngā Wai are brought to life by a cast of exquisite dance artists – Bianca Hyslop, Brydie Colquhoun, Kasina Campbell, Jeremy Beck, Tupua Tigafua and Sean himself. With an incredible design team on board including John Verryt (Set), Vanda Karolczak (Lighting) , David Long (Sound and Composition), Te Orihau Karaitiana (Costumes), and Osborne Shiwan (Campaign Design) Ngā Wai is a celebration of Aotearoa’s most creative performance artists and the wealth of stories that are held by Māori.
"The name adhering to the plurality of waters that exist in ourselves, landscapes, and the cosmos we inhabit, we flowed into community to share stories. The Q Theatre was moving with whānaunga gathered... it was a maze of re-activating relationships inclusive of our lingering gaze, and touch."
Dr Tia Reihana-Morunga
Date
- Friday 16th April 2021
- 12 pm & 7.30pm
Venue
- Waimarama Memorial Hall
- 2282 Waimarama Road, Waimarama 4294
Price
- All tickets $18
Audience Participation
- Post show talks
Programme
YouTube
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Creative Team
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Performers
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Funders
- Choreographer - Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitane, Ngāti Raukawa)
- Set Design - John Verryt
- Costume Design - Te Orihau Karaitiana (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwāhine, Rangitane)
- Lighting Design - Vanda Karolczak
- Original Music - David Long
- Voice - Rio Hunuki Hemopo (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
- Taonga pūoro and cello - Ruby Mae Hinepuni Solly (Kai Tahu)
- Percussion - Riki Pirihi Gooch (Ngå Wai/Ngåti Mahanga Hourua/Patuharakeke)
- Jeremy Beck (Ngāi Tahu)
- Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue)
- Kasina Campbell (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu)
- Brydie Colquhoun (Ngāti Kawa, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi)
- Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitane, Ngāti Raukawa)
- Tupua Tigafua
- Aloali'i Tapu
- Creative New Zealand
- Foundation North
- Auckland Council