25 November 2016 - 0 Comments
The prestigious New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) is bringing two performances to the shores of Tapapakanga Park, providing a unique opportunity for Splore Festival goers to see the best of New Zealand’s contemporary dance in a completely natural setting.
The NZDC will perform ‘Lumina’ on Friday night in Yealands Living Lounge, Splore’s dedicated and intimate performance space. On the beach during Saturday, they will perform a family show ‘The Adventures of Xin’.
Shona McCullagh, Chief Executive & Artistic Director for The New Zealand Dance Company says it’s great to bring dance out of traditional theatres and into a relaxed festival setting, making dance accessible to those who may not have experienced the genre before.
“There was an inspirational time in NZ history – when modern dance was uber cool and a part of incredible festivals like Sweetwaters. Back then, it was three minute numbers to ‘Hey Negrita’ or Talking Heads songs – so it’s wonderful to be presenting these dance works Lumina with full length scores by wonderful New Zealand composers such as Paddy Free and Eden Mulholland.
Performances at Splore animates the entire Festival, with roving performers surprising and delighting the audience. Big names pepper the bill with soul singer-songwriter Hollie Smith performing an intimate show, through to death defying feats by circus company The Dust Palace and the NZ exclusive of La Soirée’s David Eriksson’s solo show ‘Pink on the Inside’.
Emma Vickers, Splore’s Creative Director says Splore has matured to embrace the ‘entire experience’ trend of festivals worldwide where performance is as integral to Splore’s character as the music acts.
“Having NZDC in our programme is a gift we can give to everyone who may not ordinarily have access to the extraordinary physical talent we have in New Zealand. But on a stage, in a tent, under the trees, by the beach – we are reframing the stage.”
Vickers says the performance line-up at Splore is the most vibrant yet.
“Saturday nights at Splore are legendary with the most fun, fabulous cabaret party in the country. It’s really awesome to have thousands of people in costume this year interpreting 2017’s theme of ‘Strangely Familiar’ - The Family Reunion, through a myriad of crazy dress-ups!.
Vickers says “Saturday evening in the Living Lounge is where The Family Reunion Grand Fiesta will play out. Expect a cast of quirky entertainers to give their all on stage, ruled by the glorious and wild Matriarch of Ceremonies, Yana Alana”.
Friday night performers:
The New Zealand Dance Company ‘Lumina’
David Eriksson (La Soirée) ‘Pink on the Inside’
SoccerPractise
Maharaj Trio
Latin Aotearoa
Saturday night performers:
MC Yana Alana
Rosie Roulette
The Dust Palace artists of Circus ft Eve Gordon, Rochelle Mangan
|Twerk It Out!
MOE- Makers of Entertainment
Hollie Smith
Fox and Fish with Raed Said
Orchestra of Spheres
During the weekend, the crazy cousins of the Living Lounge Family can be found out and about in Tapapakanga getting up to good stuff because they just love a happy family.
Expect to see roving performance acts, and join in activities with:
Flow Academy of Movement
The New Zealand Dance Company ‘The Adventures of Xin’
Fraser Hooper
Restless Legs Dance Ensemble
Dust Palace
Auckland City Scoundrels
Twerk It Out!
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