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MĀUI

29 - 31 Aug 2024

In the Drama Theatre

Dance

Fresh Movement brings the best of contemporary storytelling to our stage in a reawakening of Māori and Pacifica stories. MĀUI is a vibrant retelling of the many tales of Pacific demi-god Māui that have travelled throughout the area for hundreds of years. A rich blend of dance, music, theatre and projected animation re-tell these stories in a way like never before. Fresh Movement Collective come direct from New Zealand and are at the forefront of the street dance scene.

A ground-breaking display of all art forms

In a beautifully rich and contemporary form of story-telling, MĀUI showcases contemporary and traditional Pacific dance forms alongside elements of theatre, spoken word, live music, hip-hop, haka and capoeira, with stunning animated projections.

Choreographed by Hadleigh Pouesi and Christopher Ofanoa, MĀUI features an epic cast of 30 performers of the Freshmans Dance Crew with the four founding members. Synonymous with making waves in the street dance scene in New Zealand, Freshmans Dance Crew are committed to exploring the stories of ancestors, identities and experiences that have travelled throughout the Pacific for hundreds of years.

The performance explores stories and experiences of Pacific migration, myths and legends that have travelled throughout the Pacific. Demonstrating strength, growth, leadership and vulnerability, this joyful, yet at times heart wrenching performance, unfolds over seven chapters each diving deep into all the tales and adventures of Māui.

An epic journey through Polynesian myth and legend, MĀUI is an unmissable opportunity to see the dance traditions of multiple Pacific Island nations all together on the Sydney Opera House stage.

Sydney Opera House Presents, In association with Fresh Movement Collective. 

The Australian tour of MĀUI has been supported by Auckland Live.

MĀUI is a wonderful production that merges the old and the new, offering a dance experience that contains rhythm, narrative, joy and humour.

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