Lemi Ponifasio
Encyclopedia
Lemi Ponifasio is a Samoan
choreographer and the founder and director of MAU, New Zealand
's most prolific international contemporary dance and theatre company. His works have been called genius, powerful, frightening, beautiful, inspirational, his critical eye on our times and fearless vision continuing to provoke both attention and controversy.
Based in Auckland
, New Zealand, MAU performs at major international theatres and festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival
, Theatre de la Ville
Paris, the Holland Festival
, the Venice Biennale
and Vienna Festival
.
"An ancestral imagined world made of earth and air, fire and water, inhabited by gods and men, underlies the visionary creations of one of the leading New Zealand directors, Lemi Ponifasio, who draws from the native cultures of the Pacific to create, like a shaman, new symbols that also speak of our present. In his shows, ceremonies, performance culture, dance and contemporary theatre blend and demonstrate a strong connotation of civil commitment. Ponifasio’s unique work is hard to define in conformity with the parameters of theatre and dance of the West. Seeing a show by the MAU group means wondering at a crepuscular dimension in which the human being is vulnerable and in which the body becomes a receptacle of spirits, animals, creatures of dust, of a primitive instinctive energy. Ponifasio’s shows have been defined “hypnotic, strongly scenographic, characterised by the strength of the images, with a powerful relationship between darkness, light and movement”. The originality of his language, which refers back to the ancestral value of dance, shunning folklore cliches, fashion and pop culture, ensure he is one of the world’s leading contemporary artists in the genre."
Ponifasio's latest creation "Birds With Skymirrors" was presented at the Edinburgh International Festival 2010 and Theater Der Welt RUHR 2010. Ponifasio also staged the MAUForum at the Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin 2010. The MAUForum was established by Ponifasio in 2005 to explore new theatre forms for encounter between artists and community.
"Tempest", a series of works responding to the escalation of state powers and unlawful detention in the post 9/11- world, was premiered in Vienna in June 2007 and has also been performed at such places as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre London 2008, Theatre de la Ville Paris 2010 and Volksbühne Berlin 2010. Tempest is a work that concerns human rights and examines the philosophical works of Walter Benjamin and Giorgio Agamben.
"Tempest", an epic production, included Maori activist Tame Iti
in the lead role. Before the London season, Iti was arrested by New Zealand police in Ruatoki
on 15 October 2007 during the so-called anti-terror raids, and caused uncertainty for the MAU tour to London and Brussels in 2008. However, Ponifasio convinced the New Zealand High Court to allow the detained Maori activist to travel. Affidavits in support of MAU from international arts organizations had also been submitted as evidence to the High Court. The incident got the notice of some British media.
Requiem (2006) was commissioned by Artistic Director Peter Sellars
for the New Crowned Hope Festival in Vienna
, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart. Requiem was also presented at KVS Royal Flemish Theatre Brussels 2006, ASB Theatre Auckland 2007, the Southbank Centre London 2007 and the Lincoln Center New York in 2008.
In 2003 Ponifasio toured the Pacific Region with his work "Paradise" (parts of the work were banned by the French Government in Tahiti). "Paradise" was also presented at the Venice Biennale and the Auckland Festival
in 2003 and the Holland Festival and Theater der Welt in 2005. The world premiere of "Paradise" at the Auckland Festival was noted for the riotous participation of the audience through oratory, singing and chanting tributes from elders and young alike at the beginning and at the end of the performance, led prominently by the present Minister of Maori Affairs and the founder of the Maori Political Party, Dr Pita Sharples
.
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
choreographer and the founder and director of MAU, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's most prolific international contemporary dance and theatre company. His works have been called genius, powerful, frightening, beautiful, inspirational, his critical eye on our times and fearless vision continuing to provoke both attention and controversy.
Based in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, MAU performs at major international theatres and festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
, Theatre de la Ville
Théâtre de la Ville
The Théâtre de la Ville is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris; the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet...
Paris, the Holland Festival
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
, the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
and Vienna Festival
Vienna Festival
The Wiener Festwochen is a cultural festival in Vienna that takes place every year for five or six weeks in May and June.The Wiener Festwochen was established in 1951, when Vienna was still occupied by the four Allies...
.
"An ancestral imagined world made of earth and air, fire and water, inhabited by gods and men, underlies the visionary creations of one of the leading New Zealand directors, Lemi Ponifasio, who draws from the native cultures of the Pacific to create, like a shaman, new symbols that also speak of our present. In his shows, ceremonies, performance culture, dance and contemporary theatre blend and demonstrate a strong connotation of civil commitment. Ponifasio’s unique work is hard to define in conformity with the parameters of theatre and dance of the West. Seeing a show by the MAU group means wondering at a crepuscular dimension in which the human being is vulnerable and in which the body becomes a receptacle of spirits, animals, creatures of dust, of a primitive instinctive energy. Ponifasio’s shows have been defined “hypnotic, strongly scenographic, characterised by the strength of the images, with a powerful relationship between darkness, light and movement”. The originality of his language, which refers back to the ancestral value of dance, shunning folklore cliches, fashion and pop culture, ensure he is one of the world’s leading contemporary artists in the genre."
Ponifasio's latest creation "Birds With Skymirrors" was presented at the Edinburgh International Festival 2010 and Theater Der Welt RUHR 2010. Ponifasio also staged the MAUForum at the Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin 2010. The MAUForum was established by Ponifasio in 2005 to explore new theatre forms for encounter between artists and community.
"Tempest", a series of works responding to the escalation of state powers and unlawful detention in the post 9/11- world, was premiered in Vienna in June 2007 and has also been performed at such places as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre London 2008, Theatre de la Ville Paris 2010 and Volksbühne Berlin 2010. Tempest is a work that concerns human rights and examines the philosophical works of Walter Benjamin and Giorgio Agamben.
"Tempest", an epic production, included Maori activist Tame Iti
Tame Iti
Tāme Wairere Iti has become well known in New Zealand as a Tūhoe Māori activist.- Early life :Born on a train near Rotorua, Tame Iti grew up with his grandparents in the custom known as whāngai on a farm near Ruatoki in the Urewera area of New Zealand...
in the lead role. Before the London season, Iti was arrested by New Zealand police in Ruatoki
Ruatoki
Ruatoki is a locality in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand. It is located at the base of the Urewera Valley, approximately 20 km south of Whakatane. The predominantly Māori community of approximately 600 people affiliate with the Tūhoe iwi, with at least ten marae located in the area...
on 15 October 2007 during the so-called anti-terror raids, and caused uncertainty for the MAU tour to London and Brussels in 2008. However, Ponifasio convinced the New Zealand High Court to allow the detained Maori activist to travel. Affidavits in support of MAU from international arts organizations had also been submitted as evidence to the High Court. The incident got the notice of some British media.
Requiem (2006) was commissioned by Artistic Director Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
for the New Crowned Hope Festival in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart. Requiem was also presented at KVS Royal Flemish Theatre Brussels 2006, ASB Theatre Auckland 2007, the Southbank Centre London 2007 and the Lincoln Center New York in 2008.
In 2003 Ponifasio toured the Pacific Region with his work "Paradise" (parts of the work were banned by the French Government in Tahiti). "Paradise" was also presented at the Venice Biennale and the Auckland Festival
Auckland Festival
The Auckland Festival is a biennial arts and cultural festival held in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new works and international performing arts events.-History:Auckland was the first...
in 2003 and the Holland Festival and Theater der Welt in 2005. The world premiere of "Paradise" at the Auckland Festival was noted for the riotous participation of the audience through oratory, singing and chanting tributes from elders and young alike at the beginning and at the end of the performance, led prominently by the present Minister of Maori Affairs and the founder of the Maori Political Party, Dr Pita Sharples
Pita Sharples
Pita Russell Sharples, CBE, , a Māori academic and politician, currently co-leads the Māori Party. He currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau in New Zealand's Parliament.-Early life:...
.