Black Grace
7:30 pm Tuesday, Feb. 19, Tuesday February 19 | $26-$64.
The Samoan and Maori dancers
of New Zealand Black Grace company make their Portland debut for one night
only, performing a blend of ceremonial and contemporary movement by artistic
director Neil Ieremia.
The program, presented by White Bird, includes Pati Pati, which incorporates body percussion influenced by traditional Samoan
Sasa (seated dance) and Fa’ataupati (slap dance). It also mines past full-length works inspired by children’s clapping games and gestural language. Additionally
on the bill: Amata Act 3–“o le amataga fou” (a
new beginning), an excerpt from the
full-length work Amata, which derives its movement
vocabulary from variations on a language phrase drawn from letters, conversations, arguments and apologies. The evening concludes with
Vaka,
informed by the history of Maori explorers and using a raft as a metaphor for hope. The
company’s appearance fits into White Bird’s Outreach Project with Portland
Public Schools; as part of a unit on “Indigenous Cultures in New Zealand and
Australia,” local students
will be treated to a performance the next day.
Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Phone: 248-4335
Address: 1037 SW Broadway
Website: www.whitebird.org
Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Phone: 248-4335
Address: 1037 SW Broadway
Website: www.whitebird.org
