STRUT dance

TAMA MA follows the autobiographical story of dancers Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete as they travel from boyhood to manhood delving into their love, life, joy and sorrow.

The five-part cyclic tale starts with their birth, explores their connection to Whanau (family) and Iwi (tribe), their ideas of identity as mature Maori men, and ends at the gates of heaven.

TAMA MA premiered in Auckland at the Tempo Dance Festival, and went on to a four centre national tour, with phenomenal audience feedback and critical acclaim.

Local dancers, Claudia Alessi and Matthew Morris, will support TAMA MA performing their duet twisting the straight line.

twisting the straight line is a contemporary tale about modern parenting from a queer culture perspective.

Both couples have had extensive training and performance with established companies in New Zealand, Australia and abroad and this STRUT season allows the two pairs to reunite creatively.

Agnes Michelet, Director of STRUT dance, says it will be a rich and powerful night of dance.

"We want to share and celebrate the courage and free spirit of dancers who are launching themselves on the world stage independent of an established company.

"Tai, Taane, and our own Matthew and Claudia, have years of extensive dance practice and are incredibly skilled artists.

"It is a unique opportunity for Perth audiences to see these four dancers perform their honest, passionate, and personal duets.

-ends-

BOOKINGS: 9321 4066 or online http://www.trybooking.com/GEQ

Tama Ma is a sensational new dance work, which is inspiring, simple and honest
as well as a bit raunchy and clever.
John Daly-Peoples, National Business Review

Tama Ma, the hit dance show by Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal, is a must see
event! It is rare to see such complicity and love expressed on stage; their
partnership is extraordinary.
Lynne Pringle, theatreview.co.nz

We do not often see choreography that is so deeply drawn from a core of Mâori
culture and personal experience... This is profoundly important theatre
Jennifer Shennan, Dominion Post

To arrange interviews with any of the dancers or for more images please contact:
STRUT Dance
Talei Howell-Price
0415 260 913
(08) 9321 4066

BACKGROUNDER

Taiaroa Royal
DIRECTOR & PRINCIPLE
Te Arawa, Kai Tahu, Ngati Rauwaka, Uenukukopako
Taiaroa trained at the New Zealand School of Dance and has since performed with
major dance companies both at home and abroad, including The Royal New Zealand
Ballet, Douglas Wright and Black Grace. Tai has successfully choreographed many high profile events across Australasia including the Montana World of Wearable Arts Awards in Wellington, The Festival of Dreaming in Sydney, Auckland's Concert in the Park and Queen of the Whole Universe. Tai has also spent time teaching at the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts, The New Zealand School of Dance and a number of private dance schools. Tai cites his performance in 2006 with 'Maui – One Man Against the Gods', directed by Tanemahuta Gray, as one of his favourites." Maui gave me the opportunity to return to my spiritual roots and search through my own genealogy. It gave me strength and insight to look for a new phase for my career. In many ways it was the birth place for Okareka". Taiaroa was very happy with the response from Tama Ma's premiere season last year and is excited to be touring it around Aotearoa.

Taane Mete
DIRECTOR & PRINCIPLE
Ngati Kahungungu me Ngati Koriki
Taane Mete graduated with honours from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1988
and is considered one of this country's most outstanding and versatile dancers.
His 22 years of experience has seen him perform with companies such as Footnote,
Douglas Wright, Taiao Dance Company, Fusion Dance Theatre, Michael Parmenter
(Commotion Company), The Royal New Zealand Ballet, and Human Garden Dance
Company. Taane was also founding member and a senior dancer for Black Grace Dance Company. Taane also works as a choreographer and dance tutor at UNITEC Performing Arts and has choreographed sections for many events including New Zealand Fashion Week and the opening of the Vector Arena in Auckland. Taane also featured in the short film 'Hurtle' by Shona McCullagh (Human Garden), and Peter Jackson's 'King Kong'. 2007 saw the establishment of Taane's joint company with Taiaroa Royal, Okareka Dance Company Ltd.

Matthew Morris
Matthew trained and graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
During the past 22 years he has been working professionally as a dancer, physical theatre performer, dance facilitator, movement coordinator and collaborator with numerous national and international companies and projects working with diverse choreographers and directors that include stage, film, performance art, education and site specific events. Matthew is based between London and Berlin and continues to return to Australia to perform and choreograph. In 2009 he continued to work with Fearghus O'Conchuir and Mikel Aristegui on various productions in Dublin, Spain and Berlin. He has toured Switzerland with a production of Hollywood Angst directed by Kylie Walters, New York and Shanghai with O'Conchuir's work, and earlier this year performed a development of his own working projects. Matthew returned to Perth in late 09 to perform in Hariki a work by French Choreographer Didier Theron, and will return to choreograph for the students at the West Australian academy of Performing Arts in late '10. He has travelled extensively for professional engagements, pleasure and cultural exchange, and continues to so.

Claudia Alessi
Claudia's diverse dance career is interwoven with acrobatics, aerial work, physical theatre, puppetry and film. Having trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she is a sessional lecturer there across the dance and theatre departments. Claudia has choreographed, conducted master classes, directed and produced for various schools, universities, events and festivals throughout Australia, including Associate Producer for Crossfire in the Artrage Northbridge Festivals. Over the past 23 years she has toured extensively both nationally and internationally with dance and theatre companies including: Chrissie Parrott Dance Company, 'skadada', Sydney Theatre Company, West Australian Opera. In collaboration with Leigh Warren's ADT and Foundation Jean-Pierre Perrault of Canada, Fieldworks Performance Group, Shadow Industries Theatre, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Media Lab France with Motion Capture technology, Thwack Dance Company (Garry Stewart), Co Loaded, Plasticien Volants of France, Legs On The Wall Physical Theatre Sydney, STRUT dance inc, Steamworks Arts Prod & Black Swan Theatre Co, guest artist for the European tour of Age of Unbeauty '06 with Australian Dance Theatre and with independent choreographers Sue Peacock, Didier Theron. Independently Claudia has produced and performed in her solo work 'Point of Entry' for PIAF and '4by2 A series of Encounters' in. Three times nominated 'Most Outstanding Female Performer' for the Australian Dance Awards & awarded 'Most Outstanding Female performer of '06 for the WA Dance Awards. Claudia has also choreographed, movement and rehearsal directed for Buzz Dance Theatre Black Swan State Theatre Co, Barking Gecko Theatre Co. and Melbourne Theatre Co. She has served as a member of the Dance Board for The Australia Council 08-'10 and is currently Vice President for Ausdance National.