Good Company Arts presented an AV liveset of our TIGER (Silver Lotus) and DRAGON works with internationally renowned musician/composer Mark de Clive-Lowe and taonga pūoro master Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui (Kāti Irakehu, Ngāi Tuahuriri Kāti Huirapa, Te Whanau Pokai. Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) for Japan Festival Wellington. It was super special bringing the digital pieces to sonic life on the Michael Fowler Centre main stage with these awesome artists supported by audio engineer Justin Cederholm and director Daniel Belton, live keying film projection assets.
Inspirational rehearsals and recording sessions at Ahumairangi Studio, Massey University College of Creative Arts, were followed by the one-off performance for Japan Festival Wellington programme. It was wonderful to be immersed in Japanese cultural events in Aotearoa New Zealand’s capital, and to contribute to the celebrations. Mark de Clive-Lowe's music forges a richly evocative fusion of Asia-Pacific influences - audiences loved it and we were thrilled to be part of the festival in Pōneke. Another highlight was the uniting of Airu Matsuda with de Clive-Lowe in person. Matsuda-san choreographed and danced solo for TIGER (Silver Lotus) and also appears in DRAGON. Both artists share ancestral roots to Japan and were born in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau.
Good Company Arts is very grateful to have had this opportunity to bring de Clive-Lowe and Kingi-Kaui to Wellington to work with Belton and creative producer Donnine Harrison and team. It has been a momentous time of co-creation and reciprocity.
Ngā mihi nui Creative New Zealand toi Aotearoa and Tui Tuia Learning Circle for your integral support in making this possible. Ngā mihi mahana Asia New Zealand Foundation and Massey University College of Creative Arts. Ngā mihi maioha Mike Gibson, Bridget Johnson, Stuart Foster, Jac Grenfell, friends and whānau for all your support. Ngā manaakitanga festival chair Mayu Suzuki, João Salomão and staff. Arigatou gozaimasu!
Promo below features Chikako Arai of IDIOT SAVANT Theater Company dancing in DRAGON. We are looking forwards to performing next month at Baroom Club Tōkyō!
