Details

Lemi Ponifasio is a Samoan choreographer living in New Zealand. His company MAU is named after the Samoan independence movement - the word MAU means revolution. One of the most distinctive choreographers in the world today, Ponifasio is a fearless creative force whose work provokes attention and debate wherever it is experienced. The choreography is an extraordinary visceral kaleidoscope of ideas and influences that touch on the tensions and politics of race, tradition, mythology, urban consumerism and environmental awareness.

Archive listings for Lemi Ponifasio/Mau

Work type: Dance or ballet.

Birds with Skymirrors - T978829550

Can we ever hope to live in harmony with our environment? Can we aspire to become more than vandals? A species integrated with the planet on which we live? On the smallest of islands in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, shiny, glittering fragments of plastic waste attract the eyes of frigatebirds. These tiny sky mirrors, deadly parcels of pollution which adorn the nests of unsuspecting sea birds, are a dreadful if ironic reminder of the fragile beauty of environmentally degraded, remote islands throughout the Pacific. Inspired by the plight of the small islands of the Pacific, Lemi Ponifasio asks some big questions about our role on the planet. At a time of urgent and anxious debates on global warming, Birds with Skymirrors is a reflection, through beauty and stillness, on our relationship with the Earth. A co-production between Théâtre de la Ville, Theater der Welt 2010, spielzeit'europa I Berliner Festspiele, Wiener Festwochen, KVS Brussels, New Zealand International Arts Festival and Holland Festival. Duration 1hr 30mins
17 Aug 10 to 18 Aug 10Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh :: V602
listing details L1179106753

Tempest: Without a Body - T0507277142

Part dance, part theatre, part ceremony, Tempest is an awe-inspiring reflection on our modern world. Sporting full-face Maori tattoo, veteran Maori activist Tame Iti strikes an imposing figure at the centre of this ferocious and beautiful vision of paradise and hell. He is the focal point of this Shakespeare-inspired work which delves deep into the iconic world of Polynesian ritual. Tempest explores timeless themes of political freedom and personal liberty. Duration: 1hr 30mins
14 Aug 10 to 15 Aug 10Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh :: V602
listing details L75824621

Tempest II - T932269648

Ponifasio's Tempest IIuses the mesmeric intensity of traditional Pacific ritual forms to create a highly minimalist contemporary performance of a staged meeting between the audience and leading Maori activist, Tame Iti.
27 Jun 08 to 28 Jun 08Southbank Centre, West End :: V423
listing details L1187180523

Requiem - T1561761995

A work of immense beauty, Requiem is created from Pacific rites of farewelling the dead, of remembrance, and of greeting the ancestors. The uncompromising and controversial work of Samoan choreographer Lemi Ponifasio brings together Pacific traditions of rhetoric and dance, with contemporary, minimalist theatre to create a pilgrimage of hope, echoing the history of social negotiations in New Zealand and the South Pacific. Originally commissioned by Peter Sellars as part of the New Crowned Hope Festival in Vienna to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart, Requiem brings an overwhelming response to the visionary themes of Mozart's last years: magic and transformation, truth and reconciliation, and ceremony for the dead.
29 Sep 07 to 30 Sep 07Southbank Centre, West End :: V423
listing details L01426510699
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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