bloo/d/runk

I am a womanly colour,
an unholy body of work.

A haunting call for home and a call to arms, ‘bloo/d/runk’ is an internationally commissioned performative ceremony adorned as a cross-disciplinary dance work.

’bloo/d/runk’ delves into the tension between the barren body, the distorted vocal soundscape buried within it and the manipulation of identity.
Through recovering the complex relationship to her Fijian bloodline, Jahra explores the connection between a woman’s body and the earth it is born from
- both being recognised and unrecognisable.

‘bloo/d/runk’ is unique in it’s presentation, as it dramatically shifts according to the audience, venue, social climate and the land that it is being
performed on to be able to strengthen it’s potency for the time.
Presented with an invited audience onstage as intimate witnesses for each activation, ‘bloo/d/runk’ is a powerful homecoming ceremony
for the universal state of longing, intergenerational trauma, redemption and ultimately, forgiveness.

The new blood has been conceived! The new daughters will be jawless!

International Festival of Pacific Arts, Guahan
featuring VOU Dance Company
2016 — International Festival of Pacific Arts, Guahan featuring VOU Dance Company 2016

'bloo/d/runk' film capture
2016 — 'bloo/d/runk' film capture 2016

Pacific Dance Choreographic Development, 2015

Witch Dance Festival, Berlin
2016 — Witch Dance Festival, Berlin 2016

bloo/d/runk - film excerpt

Concept/Movement- Jahra Wasasala
Film/Director/Editor - Guilherme Taccetti
Assistant/Camera Op - Ralph Brown

bloo/d/runk trailer

Performance footage from The Witch Dance Project Festival, Sophiensaele Theatre, Berlin.

2016 performance dates

International Festival of Pacific Arts.

Premiere: June 2016, presented as part of the Aotearoa’s Pacific delegation for the 12th International Festival of Pacific Arts held in Guahan.

University of Guam Fine Arts Theatre

Pacific Dance Festival NZ.

15 - 16 June 2016, presented at the Pacific Dance Festival of Aotearoa.

Mangere Arts Centre, Tamaki Makaurau

The Witch Dance Project Festival.

6 - 8 October 2016, invited by Christoph Winkler Company to present at the first The Witch Dance Project Festival.

Sophiensaele Theatre, Berlin

Tempo Dance Festival NZ.

13 & 15 October 2016, presented at New Zealand’s National Dance Festival, Tempo Dance Festival.

Q Theatre, Tamaki Makaurau

“A memory of fulfilment. A memory of purification. A memory of the female connection with the earth.
’bloo/d/runk’ is more than a dance [work]. This work is a celebration. This work is breath-taking. This work is life.”

- Theatreview NZ

Berlin poster featuring Jahra Wasasala for The Witch Dance Project, 2016

bloo/d/runk credits

Performance duration —50 Minutes

Created and Performed —Jahra Wasasala
FESTPAC Performance featuring —VOU Dance company
Poetic Text —Jahra ‘Rager’ Wasasala
Music Designer —Ethan King
Vocals featuring —VOU Dance Company
Photographer of Promotional and Development Imagery
—Jocelyn Janon
FESTPAC Images —Alvin Cabiting
Tempo Dance Image —Nina Photography

Residency —Pacific Dance Choreographic Lab 2015
Supported by —Creative New Zealand (FESTPAC Delegation)
Supported by —Christoph Winkler Company,
Sophiensaele Theatre

press & media coverage

Radio New Zealand — https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/201804194/jahra-wasasala-wahinetoa-nights
Theatreview — https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/printreview.php?id=8675
Libel —
https://libel.co.nz/home/2016/10/3/jahra-rager