MEDIA RELEASE
HURIHURI
Award winning NZ company celebrates contemporary Maori culture in world premiere commission
A Pacific explosion of dance, music and urban street culture will enthrall everyone when award winning New Zealand company Movement of the Human (MOTH) premieres Hurihuri from 13-15 April at Festival 2018, the arts and cultural program of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).
Commissioned especially for the Roundabout Stage at Broadbeach, presented by The Star Gold Coast, Hurihuri (the Maori word for ‘spin’) features skateboarders, kapa haka and poi dancers, and a live soundscape of drums, electronic loops and traditional Maori instruments - taonga pūoro.
Multi-award winning integrated dancer Rodney Bell stars in Hurihuri, performing in an aerial duet that repurposes the wheelchair as a sculptural element and an inspiration for hip hop infused movement design.
Festival 2018 Gold Coast Co-Creative Director Yaron Lifschitz says Hurihuri epitomises the theme of ‘Aspire’, the title of the festival’s third and final act.
“Hurihuri is an ambitious new commission from New Zealand, a tremendous celebration of diversity and a colourful blend of traditional and contemporary Maori culture.
“I’m particularly excited to bring Rodney Bell to Festival 2018 Gold Coast after searching all around the Commonwealth for an artist of his calibre.
“Rodney’s ability is extraordinary, and he is just stunning to watch” Mr Liftschitz said.
Hurihuri is directed by MOTH founder Malia Johnston, a prolific New Zealand choreographer who has spent 20 years creating a repertoire of small and large scale performances – including directing the famous World of Wearable Art Awards Show in Wellington for over 14 years.
The live soundscape is composed and performed by Tom Scrase, who toured the Asia Pacific for seven years as a musician with New Zealand’s Strike Percussion, and co-founded the internationally chart-topping Thomas Oliver Band.
The exclusive Australian season of Hurihuri will also feature guest artists from the Award winning Gold Coast based kapa haka group, Tūranga Ake (Or Gold Coast Maori Community)
MOTH is an award winning movement and performance design company that creates multidisciplinary work responding to spatial and live movement environments.
For its latest work, RUSHES, MOTH won Auckland Fringe Festival 2017 Awards for Best Work, Best Ensemble, Best Design, and Auckland Arts Festival Best of the Fringe.
Hurihuri debuts at Festival 2018 Gold Coast, 12 action-packed days of culture taking over the Gold Coast from 4-15 April to celebrate GC2018.
For full program details and more information on Festival 2018 visit
gc2018.com/festival2018.
Date: Friday 13-Sunday 15 April 2018
Time: Fri-Sat 11am + 1pm; Sun 3pm + 7.30pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Venue: Roundabout Stage, cnr Surf Parade and Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
Tickets and Bookings: Free event, no bookings required
For more information, please email festival2018media@goldoc.com or contact:
Bronwyn Bender: +61 481 907 056
Arts and Culture Communications and PR Specialist
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)
Cassie Grace: +61 466 023 291
Arts and Culture Marketing and Communications Lead
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/festival-2018-rolls-out-3500-artists-to-entertain-crowds-at-gold-coast-commonwealth-games/news-story/57dd58ec180d6d1d22023f57e3e6c7e2
