Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand

Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand

Availability:
May, Limited Availability

Art form:

Dance, Heritage arts, Music

Curricular Connections:

Foreign language, Social studies

Artist's site:
Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre

Full list of Artists

Overview
About
Programs

Boldly entertaining, the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre presents traditional culture, music and dance dating back to 900 AD, when the Maoris' first migration through Polynesia took them from Hawaiki to New Zealand. These professional artists share energetic songs and dances, wearing beautiful hand-crafted grass and beaded clothing from New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Their program sparkles with narrations for each island, plenty of audience participation, healthy doses of humor and a question/answer session. The 6-8 member touring Kahurangi ensemble, New Zealand's only full time professional Maori dance company, travels throughout the Pacific, Europe and North America, appearing at festivals, museums, conferences and schools.

"Their culturally authentic music, dance [and] humor-laced narrative touch people of all ages."

THE MUSIC CENTER OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand is a national cultural, educational and employment program which encourages cultural understanding among people of all nations. Each year some 20 young Maori men and women travel to more than fifteen hundred schools, festivals and theaters throughout New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States working together as a family inspiring cultural development, understanding and community service. They are the only professional Maori dance company touring North America. The ensemble performers in North America are graduates from the Takitimu performing arts school in Hastings, NZ, the first accredited institution in New Zealand to specialize in the instruction and preservation of the Maori performing arts. Company members selected to tour in North America have had a minimum of two years of professional performance experience in New Zealand. In addition, they are trained in administration, production, public relations, theater technology and transport. They are also certified to conduct workshops and lectures in subjects relative to the cultural heritage of the Maori people.

Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand

Boldly entertaining, the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre presents traditional culture, music and dance dating back to 900 AD.