Pacific Dance NZ – Artist in Residence and Choreographic Lab

In a tumultuous year that saw the cancellation of their annual Festival programme and the debut of an innovative new digital series, Pacific Dance New Zealand are delighted to round out their 10th anniversary year with two of their landmark initiatives – the Artist In Residence and the Choreographic Lab.

In a busy October schedule, both programmes will be active with public presentations – the final Artist In Residence performance will be held on Saturday 3 October to mark Tuvalu Language Week which begins on Monday 27 September, and the Choreographic Lab works will be performed as part of Artweek Auckland’s Late Night Art celebrations, at the Auckland Art Gallery on Thursday 13 October.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:
2020 marks a decade for Pacific Dance New Zealand, and also the 10th year of the Artist in Residence program. PDNZ are delighted to have Auckland resident and Tuvaluan heritage dance choreographer and creative, Molia Alama Tulafono as their Artist in Residence for 2020. Hailing from the 4th smallest nation in the world, she is a proud member of the patriotic Tuvaluan community here in Aotearoa. Beginning the program in August, Molia will celebrate the end of her six week residency with Tuvalu Language Week, running September 27 – October 3. Among the plans to mark the week is a free evening show at Westgate’s Te Manawa on Friday 2 October, inviting the public and particularly the Tuvaluan community to celebrate the language and culture of Tuvalu.

Over the six weeks of her residency, the artist has engaged and networked with community, primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary dance schools in both Auckland and Wellington, with a variety of themes that have covered myths and legends, dance costumes, and the art of dancing ‘fatele’. At the heart of many of these engagements has been the inescapable discussion of how Tuvalu is facing adversity at the forefront of climate change. ‘Sautalaga a Tautai – Ke mau tau foe!’ has provided inspiration for the residency and highlights the importance of stimulating and strengthening dialogue between Tuvaluans – connecting elders and youth, as well as Aotearoa born and raised generations, with the challenges facing their island nation today.

Growing up in Tuvalu, Molia was introduced to fatele dancing as a child by her aunts in her Fale ote Kaiga (family home), and has now been involved with dancing for over 25 years. Skilled in the practicalities of the dance artforms, including lakei (costuming), kupu o fatele (fatele lyrics) choreography and movement, and performing in the falekaupule (island meeting house), she further developed her skills through the ‘Nukulaelae Fenua’ (Island Community) in Aotearoa. As a proud Henderson resident for over 25 years, the residency has been hosted in West Auckland, home to a strong Tuvaluan community. The residency has been delivered at Te Manawa in Westgate with support from Creative New Zealand, Foundation North, Massey-Henderson Local Board and Auckland Council.

“We tell our stories through the art of dancing, and we empower our young people to embrace their language, culture and heritage,” says Molia. “We develop creative, confident and resilient leaders through the art of dance and costume making. The vision is to continue to invest in our cultural dance practices and progress into prominent leadership to identify and address issues and be a beacon of light for our future.”

With PDNZ developing out of the Pacific Dance Choreographic Lab, 2020 marks the 11th year of this ambitious annual project. Targeted at emerging mid-career Pacific dance artists in Aotearoa, the Lab acts as both a platform and an incubator for ideas, to foster creativity, ingenuity, risk-taking, discovery, and collaboration. The Choreographic Lab model is now regarded as one of the most anticipated events on the NZ dance calendar, providing career opportunities in both Aotearoa and around the world for participants. Through a selection process, the successful choreographers are given a stipend, paired with a senior arts mentor, and given an opportunity to present their works to the dance sector, funded by Creative NZ. With the Lab currently underway, this year’s artists will have their public performance at the Auckland Art Gallery during the Late Night Art event of Artweek Auckland on October 13, with each choreographer presenting their own narrative based dance pieces over 45 minutes.

Amidst the pandemic, PDNZ received an overwhelming response to its call-out for applications in July.  To ensure integrity and impartiality, all applications were sent to an esteemed panel assembled from the community, consisting of Kura Te Ua (Hawaiki TŪ), Julia Mageau-Gray (Sunameke) and Leki Jackson-Bourke.

The PDNZ Choreographic Lab 2020 artists are Lomina-Meteri Araitia, Ankaramy (Anks) Fepuleai, and Albert Latailakepa.
Lomina-Meteri Araitia
A gifted multi-dimensional emerging artist, Lomina-Meteri Araitia draws deeply from her Cook Island and Tahitian heritage and shares this generously through the forms of ura, chant, and story-telling. Born and raised in the Cook Islands on the island of Rarotonga, Lomina now resides in Auckland. Graduating with a Bachelor in Performing Arts (Pacific) from PIPA, she received vigorous training in dance, drama, Pacific studies and Pacific Performance and has given powerful performances as Hecuba in Women of Troy, a creature-esque dancer in LIMA, and has beautifully crafted a solo performance titled – TUMU TE VAROVARO – The Vibrations Within. Not only is she a highly commended dancer and performer, but Lomina is also a facilitator for self-awareness and engagement practices. Her family heritage and cultural practices have greatly influenced her in how she navigates through various teaching contexts, encouraging students and individuals to engage with their deepest sense of ‘home’.

Ankaramy (Anks) Fepuleai
Currently in his third year of a Bachelor of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland, Ankaramy (Anks) Fepuleai believes that his raw and rugged style of dance is influenced by his South Auckland upbringing. Starting dance at the age of 6 with ballroom dancing under the guidance of an Uncle who danced with Candy Lane, Anks fell in love with Hip Hop dance in high school, becoming a member of the original 12 man team that started ‘Brady Bunch’ (2015) and representing New Zealand at the World Hip-Hop dance championships (2018).  As a choreographer, his work LALO was showcased at the Short & Sweet Festival where it was awarded the ‘Peoples Choice Award, ‘Judges Choice Award’ and ‘Wallace Arts Trust Emerging Artist Award.  LALO was also featured in the Moana showcase during the 2019 season of the Pacific Dance NZ Festival. Ankaramy is hoping to contribute more creative thinking and ideas in the Pasifika arts community and produce more original pieces using this as a foundation.

Albert Latailapeka
A final year of actor training at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand School of Drama, Wellingtonian Albert Latailakepa combines his passion for dance and movement in his creative journey.  His styles are heavily influenced by his Tongan and Samoan heritage and his love for urban street dance. Most recently Albert directed and starred in Boys to Men, Men to Boys as part of the Toi Whakaari Festival of work in development.  Albert’s last performance was in a showing for Tupua Tigafua’s work in development and Toi Whakaari’s ‘Lockdown La Ronde’.
PACIFIC DANCE NZ
October 2020 Schedule of Events

Artist in Residence Final Public Show
Free performance by Molia Alama Tulafono
Saturday 3rd October, 11am
Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate
As part of Tuvalu Language Week: September 27 – October 3, 2020

Choreographic Lab public performance
Free performance of works by Lomina-Meteri Araitia, Ankaramy (Anks) Fepuleai,
and Albert Latailakepa
Thursday 13th October, from 6pm
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets, Auckland CBD
As part of Late Night Art – Artweek Auckland