Dance company promotes Maori traditions

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Want to experience traditional Maori culture first-hand? You'll get your chance at the 28th Vancouver International Children's Festival when New Zealand's only professional Maori dance company performs there.

The Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre, which tours New Zealand, as well as Asia and North America in more than 400 concerts a year, will showcase the Indigenous people's intricate hand-made regalia, tribal music and energetic dances.

Haka, or the war dance, is performed by men wielding traditional weapons.

"It is danced to ignite, excite, and to prepare the warrior for battle," said Narelle Huata, the company's North America tour manager.

"We believe that in battle, the first to attack is the first to be defeated. So the men dance to provoke the opponent to make the first move."

The more peaceable poi dance, performed by both men and women twirling balls on the end of a strings, symbolizes Native New Zealanders in flight and pays tribute to Mother Earth and Father Sky.

The shows combine explanatory narrative, island humor and lots of audience interaction, often complimented by workshops and lectures.

"Not only do we show and demonstrate, we give the audience the opportunity for some hands-on experience with our culture," said Huata, who has been a dancer and choreographer with the company for 16 years. "Besides, it's fun!"

Huata, whose father Tama Huata founded the innovative cultural and employment program, said the company engages Maori youth-including those who have dropped out of school, are unemployed or just released from prison-to learn and perform both traditional and contemporary Maori dances. They also take acting and voice lessons, study languages, and brush up on social studies, math and geography, as well as theatre administration.

The Maori traditional curriculum integrates important skills in fun physical activities, said Huata, "The poi, haka movements teach our children hand-eye co-ordination, for example. Everything we teach has a purpose."

Established in 1983, Kahurangi has been a major force in promoting Maori culture both in New Zealand and abroad. With 80 per cent of its income generated from performances, Huata said the model has done well by the company.

"That said, we'd still like to see more government funding for the company," said Huata. "Not only for the monetary investment, but the acknowledgement of the Maori people as a big part of the New Zealand identity.

"We are proud of who we are as Native people of New Zealand and by performing around the world, we are educating, not only the people who watch us, but ourselves, our youth, and giving them a sense of identity.

"We have no qualms about showing off our culture," said Huata. "It's who we are and we're not ashamed of it."

The Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre performs from May 19 to 23 at the Vancouver International Children's Festival, which also features an Aboriginal Day on May 17, with performances by Art Napoleon, the Chinook Songcatchers and the Smoke Valley Drum and Dance Group.

For show times and tickets, visit www.childrensfestival.ca or call Ticketmaster at 604-280-4444.