Tama Ma dance tale tour

Contemporary dancers Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal are taking their celebrated dance work Tama Ma on the road, starting in Hamilton on June 17 and moving through Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Tama Ma tells the story of two men who travel from boyhood, to manhood, and the real life tale of love, life, joy and sorrow. 

The five part act moves from a short dance film projected on stage to a drag queen's journey to femininity and the return back to masculinity.  A young boy's connection to his Whanau (family) and Iwi (tribe) and a mature man's ideas of identity are also deeply explored.  

Presented as a five act autobiographical dance journey; Tama Ma is powerfully performed by Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal; Douglas Wright choreographs Act 2 while the talents of Michael Parmenter shape Act 4.

Mark Summervile and Heather Lee from 'Zoomslide' also collaborated on Tama Ma; they directed and produced a short film that plays in Act 1 of the performance while also creating a documentary about the process of making the dance. Eden Mulholland is also on board as musical director, using his vast talents to create a magical soundscape.

Tama Ma premiered at Tempo Dance Festival (Auckland) in 2008, they won four awards and performed to sell out crowds and rave reviews.  Metro Magazine announced that Tama Ma was the ‘Best Dance’ in Auckland in 2008.

Act One: Pito

8min 16mm short dance film projected on stage without live performance.
Dancers: Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal
Choreographers : Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete in collaboration with Mark Summerville
Film Director: Mark Summerville
Film Producer: Heather Lee
Music Composition: Eden Mullholland/ Lindah Lepou

Act Two: Tama Ma

Dancers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete
Choreographer: Douglas Wright
Music Composition: David Guerin realises piano recording from composer Provokiev
The dramatic and almost tragic metamorphosis of femininity returning to masculinity. Drag queen's who lose their fabulousness to again become ordinary men. This act explores the emotional, physical and physiological characteristics of the drag queen and her regression back to a man.

Act Three: Rangatahi

Dancer: Taane Mete or Taiaroa Royal
Choreograher: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete
Music Composition: Eden Mulholland
A solo that remembers the connection to the whanau (family) and the iwi (tribe). It is a progression of the dance from childhood, danced by Taiaroa Royal, to adolescence, danced by Taane Mete.

Act Four:  Hand to Hand

Dancers: Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal
Choreographer: Michael Parmenter
This act centres on the issue of identity. Central to this issue is the polarity of being same or being different and the exploration of the tension contained in this polarity. The choreography will investigate the difficult territory between improvisation and set composition.

Act Five: Whanaungatanga

Dancers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete
A return to spirituality and the importance of whanau ( family).  This act pays homage to the fathers of Taane and Tai, both whom have passed away.  A moving piece that see both men reflect on the important life lessons learnt from their fathers' tautoko (support) and korero (talking, speaking).

Okareka Dance Company was formed in 2007 and led by Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal with the aim to fuse contemporary dance with other creative art mediums.  The essence of Okareka Dance Company is guided by Maori beliefs, these beliefs – Mana (Honour and Integrity), Whanau (Family) and Matataki (Challenge) are brought to its work and to its audiences.

Through choreography, set design, and costume, Okareka Dance Company strives to tell bold, spiritual stories that are of and from New Zealand. Through careful collaboration the company seeks to extend its creativity and its influence by engaging experienced choreographers, musicians, film producers and performers to create evocative, beautiful dance works that tell a story.

A sustained standing ovation greeted dancers Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete...The applause honoured the breadth and depth of their richly satisfying performance, their extraordinary artistry, and the excellence of all aspects…  Raewyn Whyte NZ Herald