DANZWorld Premiere of 'Tiki Taane Mahuta' in Christchurch this May
Promising to be an explosion of Aerial Theatre and Contemporary Dance, Haka and Hip-Hop, Tiki Taane Mahuta combines two of our nation’s most exciting musical and theatrical artists; musician and music producer Tiki Taane and choreographer Tanemahuta Gray, in a story of the unseen forces, unknown strength, and the rallying of a community to survive and heal after great tragedy.
Tiki Taane Mahuta, inside a whirlwind of visual imagery, aerial wizardry, and a scintillating soundtrack is, at its heart, a story of rejuvenation, overcoming crisis, and emerging stronger on the other side. After the tragic earthquake of 2011 Christchurch, and its people, are the epitome of this journey. Major support from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has helped secure Christchurch and the newly refurbished Isaac Theatre Royal as the venue for the world premiere of this exciting new work.
Tanemahuta Gray has worked professionally as a dancer, choreographer, aerialist, director,teacher, adjudicator and producer nationally and internationally and has produced and directed 16 productions and outdoor events. Gray’s last major work, Māui - One Man Against the Gods, was seen by over 13,500 people in Christchurch and Tiki Taane Mahuta is again set to bring thousands in to the city over the six performances in May.
After moving on as frontman of the band Salmonella Dub in 2007, Tiki Taane released the award winning and double platinum selling solo album Past Present Future, and followed it up with In The World Of Light - which would both become the inspiration for and the pulse of Tiki Taane Mahuta.
Taane had some initial reservations about the project when approached by Gray, because of his self-confessed lack of knowledge and experience with dance theatre but after learning more about Tanemahuta’s work and his vision he knew this was a project he wanted to be involved in.
Tanemahuta Gray hopes that those who come to experience the show leave with an awareness of the strength they can harness if they reach out and connect to their own whakapapa or family line. For Tiki Taane it is about experiencing something unique that can only happen in that room at that time.
See Ticketek for ticket information.