Sway'n Media
PASIFIKA SWAY in the media
Pasifika Sway | Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie and Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia featured on Tagata Pasifika Television New Zealand TV One.
Pasifika Sway enjoyed media attention around the globe including having a segment on Renovation Rescue on Channel 9 and Strictly Dancing on ABC Channel in Australia. Recently featured on Asia Downunder following Aruna's crusade on promoting Hula, Hula For Fitness, and Sway Along Classes.
Asia Dowunder March 2010.
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FLAMBOYANT FANTASY TAKES FLIGHT (Birds of Paradise)
Interview by Sharu Delilkan, Photo by Frances Melhop [THE AUCKLANDER]
The courtship rituals of our feathered friends are explored in a burlesque cabaret, says Sharu Delilkan.
Aruna Po-Ching and Feeona Wall undergo a transformation in Birds of Paradise, an upcoming comedy by Morag Magnolia Brownlie, in the Tempo Festival of Dance.
Birds of Paradise is unrestrained and over-the-top burlesque cabaret, in which the rituals of courtship involving attention-seeking performances by our most peculiar, charming birds are revealed in a mix of dance, music, drama and comedy. Also on the bill are Mika, Georgia Wood, Henry Taripo and Jonathan Brugh plus dancers Georgie Goater, Naressa Gamble, Seonade Lyons, Mike Holland and the reigning queen of burlesque, Leda Petit.
Po-Ching's and Wall's metamorphoses are crucial, and in this process the pair divest themselves of Victorian ideas and garments.
Po-Ching, from Ponsonby, will explore the attitudes of English explorers who visited the Pacific islands, taking natives back home to "educate" them.
"The question is, were those natives happy with this experience and did introducing them to their (English) stiff, upper class and restricting ways make them grateful, or did they just yearn all the more for their own life and freedom back home?" she asks.
Po-Ching and Wall are using kahiko (the ancient art of hula dancing) to put their message across.
They are adamant that this form of Hawaiian hula "should not be confused with shaking hips", the typical, inauthentic, Elvis style of hula.
"Instead, it shows the mana and strength of the Polynesian woman, which signifies power rather than subservience of the dusky maiden so often depicted in Hollywood."
PASIFIKA GETS HAWAIIAN INPUT
Interview by Carly Tawhiao [Auckland City Harbour News]
A contemporary Polynesian dance company is making all the right moves for this year’s Pasifika Festival, which opens at Western Springs Stadium tonight.
Pasifika Sway, a group of 11 dancers, has trained together for two-and-a-half months and will perform two dances from its show The Hula Project.
Ponsonby director and choreographer Aruna Po-Ching called for dancers last year to promote Hawaiian dance culture in Auckland specifically for Pasifika.
"I saw a hole in the Polynesian dance and art form here and decided to develop The Hula Project.
"For Pasifika’s opening night we will be doing an ancient Hawaiian dance that tells the story of Pele, the goddess of fire. She’s as big as Maui is here," she says.
"There’s a lot of distinctive Hawaiian moves. If done well, people can’t help but be moved by it."
Group member Feeonaa Wall agrees. The Grey Lynn resident and Auckland University performing arts graduate has been dancing for 10 years.
"The Hawaiian art form has been really amazing to delve into. The arms and the postures, you have to study it to know the differences."
Louise Williams, a trained contemporary dancer and opera singer, manages to combine both her talents in a sub-group trio, the Sweet Sways.
Pasifika Sway will give its full show at the festival tomorrow at Western Springs Reserve in the Niue village in the morning and the Cook Islands village in the afternoon.
Hawaiian ukulele player Grant Muagututia will accompany Pasifika Sway tonight, along with guest singer Lapi Mariner from Jamoa Jam.
Tonight’s free show is organised by Pacific Island Board Auckland City and starts at 7pm.
The festival kicks off tomorrow at 10am and runs until 5pm.
(Article dated 13.03.2009)
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