The SCORPIONS FOR LIFE Mural Project is the second event of the Pacific Arts Summit taking place on Saturday 5 May at Ngati Otara Park, the home of The Otara Rugby League Football Club Inc - the Summit’s first sporty arty crossover event!! Food, rugby and beautiful painting – a perfect day!! Learn more here:
WIN TICKETS TO TRUE SOUTH!
April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
We’re giving away a VIP package to TRUE SOUTH – the premier event of the South Auckland Pacific Arts Summit on Friday 4 May!
ONE LUCKY WINNER AND TWO MATES WILL BE V.I.Ps ON THE NIGHT, ENJOYING COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS, DRINKS AND FRONT ROW SEATS WITH THE DESIGNERS!!
That’s front row seats to watch collections by 5 EXCELLENT plus-size designers, 3 AMAZING dance crews, a New Zealand Idol winner and the ONE AND ONLY Bella Kalolo!! #BOOM!!
To win…. post a photo of your most POLY-FABULOUS look on the Summit Facebook page or email it to Nicole. A winner will be selected by the most amount of *LIKES* and notified on Thursday 3 May!
SPREAD THE WORD AND GET SNAPPIN’!
Let us know what you’re wearing too – add a description like Ema’s example below:
This is my favourite “THAT GIRL FROM SOUTH AUCKLAND” T-shirt by Jacob Su’a, blue Lycra mini custom made by Lissy Cole, fluro leg warmers from American Apparel, Havaiana’s Jandals (as always), the super size hibiscus from King Kong and my new best friend, my Mongolian wool stole from David Lawrence.”
YOU GOTTA BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!
BELLA KALOLO at TRUE SOUTH!!
April 19, 2012 By 2 Comments
What OTHER Poly-FABULOUS female performer could we POSSIBLY have perform at TRUE SOUTH but the GORGEOUS, the Poly-FABULOUS Bella Kalolo!!!
Bella Kalolo and special guest Rosita Vai will bring some serious soul to this special event. TRUE SOUTH is a one-of-a-kind fashion show with a twist, celebrating the big, the tall, the Poly-Fabulous!
Showcasing plus-size collections from Melissa Cole’s “I Love Lissy” label, Miss Tasha Lee will launch her new ‘RastaLee’ line. Rachael Phyllis Gabor Duval debuts her exciting new collection and special plus-size collections from Paula Chan, Czarina Wilson and Visesio Louis Thomsen will also premier at the event!
Audiences will be entertained by some of our finest Pacific dancers including Ura Tabu’s Pacific Me Barbies, Deelicious Dance Crew, Tatau and choreographer Tepaeru-Ariki Lulu French will present her recent work, Pacific Muse.
Sultry and soulful performances by Rosita Vai and Bella Kalolo bring together of what promises to be a night to remember.
Tickets are selling fast so don’t miss out.
- Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku or online at EventFinder
- Cash Bar
The Summit reaches Raro!
April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Pacific Arts Summit poster has reached Rarotonga!
Cook Islands-based visual artist Ani O’Neill is pictured here at her store at the Punanga Nui market in Avarua! Ani presented a solo exhibition in the 2011 South Auckland Pacific Arts Summit called, Dancer of the Year 2011 - read more here.
Less than three weeks until TRUE SOUTH and the start of the 3rd Pacific Arts Summit!! WOOHOOO!
The Artists behind TRUE SOUTH
April 13, 2012 By 2 Comments
Weekly Summit Interviews are an opportunity to get to know the artists behind the Pacific Arts Summit…
Headlining the entertainment at TRUE SOUTH, the Pacific Arts Summit’s premier event is Pacific Muse - a beautiful dance work choreographed by Otara-based Cook Island choreographer and dancer, Tepaeru-Ariki Lulu French.
- Tickets for TRUE SOUTH are $20 and available for purchase at Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku or on EventFinder.co.nz
Tell us a bit about yourself… how long have you been choreographing, what are your inspirations and why do you do what you do?
I was born and raised on the tiny island of Aitutaki, and this is what gives me my drive, inspiration and grounding for everything I do in my life. I have been dancing and performing since I could walk, and so since joining Anuanua (Auckland-based Cook Island dance troupe) it has allowed me to explore movements and put them into practice. I would say I have been choreographing for almost eight years, and in the early years, it has been restricted within the Cook Island community and for Anuanua Dance Troupe.
The ‘tamure’ (Cook Islands dance) is something that is part of me, its ‘innate’ and it was something my mother and her mother before her did. We did not have proper training as they do now and with other dance genres, instead, we put on a pareu (sarong/lavalava) or a purou (grass skirt) and would just move, to the music, the drums and, to our feelings. That is what inspires me and I do it most probably because I cannot live without it. I have had ‘time-off’ during my dance life, for studying purposes, or to have a baby but I always felt incomplete, it is a part of my life, and I cannot deny its place in me. So I was back into it six weeks after giving birth. I do what I do because it makes me whole has it allows me to reconnect with the past the present and definitely the future.
TRUE SOUTH is a special event in the Pacific Arts Summit programme, speaking to, for and about a hugely under-represented sector of our community, plus size women. Your piece, Pacific Muse, is concerned with the Pacific body – can you tell us about the piece?
I wanted to incorporate different modes of traditional and contemporary Cook Islands dance to create an overall body of work which explores and challenges Western-colonial notions and representations of Pacific bodies. Particularly, the stereotypes and images of the ‘Dusky Maiden’ and the ideas surrounding a highly exoticised Pacific ‘feminine mystique’.
Pacific Muse focuses on the ‘white construct’ of Cook Island dance and the reclamation of the dance as a cultural possession that needs to be protected from further misinterpretation. What the dance therefore aims to achieve is to recreate an alternative position to the dance form and most important the pre-conceived perception of Pacific women. I would like to promote our dance as a way of socio-cultural expression; a reflection of everyday life entwined into a political action and challenge.
You are a true-blue Southsider, where did you grow up and what do you love about the Southside?
As we all know, Otara is the capital of the Cook Islands, so it was only natural that I can confirm that when my family and I moved to New Zealand in the late 90’s, Otara became home! It’s almost home away from home. I love Southside because of its colours! The colours of the different cultures and ethnicities, the colourful nature of the people and the surrounding! It is truly is an exciting place to grow up in.
What are your creative plans moving forward and how can people connect with you and follow your practice?
I plan to continue developing Pacific Muse and hopefully in the future be able to put it on as a full show. I would also love to take it internationally. I am still actively part of Anuanua Dance Troupe and therefore actively involved in the Cook Islands community. I can be contacted by email or follow me on Facebook for updates, dance projects or for some awesome randomness in Cook Islands dance.
Too cool!!
- Tepaeru-Ariki Lulu French was one of three choreographers selected for the 2011 Pacific Dance Choreographic Labratory where the work Pacific Muse was first developed under the mentorship of well-known dancer and artistic director, Neil Ieremia.
- Pacific Dance New Zealand is holding their annual Fono on Saturday 19 May as part of the Pacific Arts Summit, click here to find out more.
Hair Swag
April 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
These beautiful images were made at ASB Polyfest on Saturday 17 March. Photographer Vinesh Kumaran and curator Ema Tavola set out to photograph the hair styles of 66 young people. The images will be part of the exhibition, WWJD at Fresh Gallery Otara, marking the Gallery’s 66th exhibition and its 6th anniversary!
URA TABU + Deelicious Dance Crew at TRUE SOUTH!
April 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
URA TABU Pacific Dance Company are performing as part of TRUE SOUTH on Friday 4 May – our ground-breaking premier event for the 2012 Pacific Arts Summit!
Check out URA TABU on Fresh [TVNZ]
Also performing as part of TRUE SOUTH are Deelicious Dance Crew!
TRUE SOUTH is going to be THE HOTNESS!
TRUE SOUTH tickets are on sale NOW but are strictly limited! Get in quick to avoid disappointment!! Tickets can be purchased from Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku or on EventFinder.co.nz
Only 4 weeks to go!! It’s almost SUMMIT time!!
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The 2012 Pacific Arts Summit programme folds out to a A2 poster and it’s out now!
TRUE SOUTH tickets + The Early Bird Special
There are only TWO MORE days to get in on the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for tickets to TRUE SOUTH – the first event of the Pacific Arts Summit on Friday 4 May!
- Buy tickets online here or from Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku before FRIDAY 6 APRIL. After this date, tickets will be $20 – strictly limited capacity seating – get in QUICK to avoid disappointment!
- Read about TRUE SOUTH fashion designer Lissy Cole here
- We’re still accepting Expressions of Interest for our call for Poly-Fabulous plus-size models! Read more here!
Win on Facebook
We’ll be launching a Facebook competition this weekend to win a special V.I.P TRUE SOUTH experience! One lucky winner and two mates will be treated to pre-show drinks + refreshments, front row seats and goody bags!! Find us on Facebook and keep it locked for details!
