ORCHIDS.

Sarah Foster-Sproull / Foster Group)
(Aotearoa)

“Sarah Foster-Sproull’s choreographic work has been likened to a living Hieronymus Bosch or Caravaggio painting. ORCHIDS divulges the secrets of feminine magic and lost ritualistic practices. It unveils a hidden realm, evoking mothers, sisters, witches, sirens, goddesses and otherworldly creatures. Contemplating the conflict and catharsis of females at different stages of their lives, this mesmerising journey is performed and guided by seven women of three generations”
2016—2019
More info: http://fostergroupdance.com/

Leeches.

Aloalii Tapu & Tori Manley-Tapu / Ta’alili Company
(Aotearoa)

“‘Leeches’ follows nine award-winning and internationally acclaimed dancers and their experiences living the modern experience of being Kiwi and Pasifika; their turmoils and triumphs of living in a Euro-centric country. The performers take on character roles of members of society to reflect and challenge how the modern Pasifika person is perceived by one another and New Zealanders. In light of recent rhetoric in the New Zealand media regarding the Pacific Islands being “leeches... only wanting money from us,” the performance questions whether the remarks are justified considering both current and historical relationships and events between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.”
2019
More info: https://www.facebook.com/taalili.arts/

Blood Tides.

Santee Smith / Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
(Tkoronto, Canada)

“Blood Tides’ opens up space to question, retrieve pre-colonial Indigenous knowledges, weaves Indigenous women’s narratives and experiences. Created and performed through a ceremonial process, scenes such as The Thresh-holders, Awakening, Lightning Woman, First Waters, Emergence, First Moon, Renewal, Re-sculpting, Weaving the Strands and Sacred Seed reaffirms the power of a women’s reproductive body and her role as the portal between worlds, the thresholder of life and death.” —Santee Smith
2018
More info: https://www.kahawidance.org/blood-tides/

TOMO.

Gabrielle Thomas / Atamira Dance Company
(Aotearoa)

“Tomo’ tells the tale of a wairua entering the world of light. With shifting architecture Tomo interprets the proverbial hearts of three wāhine, carriers of ancient worlds, broadest horizons and greatest depths. Their inherent power holds the hidden treasures of our tupuna within and beyond the whare tangata. ‘Tomo’ dives between the boundaries of light (Tama Nui Te Ra) and darkness (Te Marama) to evoke a hauntingly spellbinding experience resonating with autobiographical and ancestral memories.”
2019
More info: https://atamiradance.co.nz/work/tomo