Hula, hip-hop, haka ... the Tempo Dance Festival showcases variety, notes Raewyn Whyte
A sparkling gala showcase and ball will mark the 10th anniversary of the annual Tempo Dance Festival next weekend at Q Theatre. The gala offers a cross-section of the dance scene, with tango by Michael Parmenter, hip-swinging hula by Pasifika Sway, a virtuoso pas de deux from dancers of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and clowning around by Justin Haiu and Tupua Tigafua aka the Double Derelicts. Kura Te Ua and Ngarino Watts present haka theatre, Mary Jane O'Reilly dances her solo Witch Bitch, Touch Compass present a Hotbox performance, there's Maori contemporary dance from Unitec students, and Bollywood from the Monisha Kumar School of Dance. Everyone gets to dance at the ball that follows.
This year's Tempo offers 34 different dance performances, a mix of touring programmes, themed showcases, short works selections and late night delights.
"This year we have more than 700 dance artists performing in styles from hip-hop to contemporary, Pacific dance to ballet, Bharatanatyam to Cirque," says Tempo director Celia Walmsley. "There's plenty to choose from, and something for everyone to enjoy."
Main bill shows from touring companies run throughout the festival. Footnote Dance presents Colt by Sarah Foster Sproull, examining what it is to be part of a community in creation.