IICL3 – AUCKLAND, 2011

In 2011 Marrugeku partnered the Auckland-based Atamira Dance Company to present the third Laboratory in Auckland in November/December. Together the two companies welcomed contemporary Indigenous dance artists from WA and NSW in Australia and from Aotearoa/New Zealand to explore key creative challenges that face contemporary Indigenous dance in their respective regions.

The 2011 laboratory was jointly facilitated by Louise Potiki Bryant, one of Atamira’s leading dancers and choreographers and Charles Royal from Orotokare, a leading exponent on Whare Tapere – the Polyneisian meeting house of music, dance and storytelling. The facilitators, together with Marrugeku’s artistic directors led participants in exploration and discussion about the relationship between Indigenous cultural contexts, with the 2011 lab focusing specifically on New Zealand. The participants developed their own choreographic practice during the laboratory in negotiation with the participating dancers from multiple cultural backgrounds. Forums were held internally during the laboratory to explore notions of creating contemporary Indigenous performance and pathways towards sustainable public forms of culture.