ONE: The Earth Rises

Dance Project

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Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother) were forced apart, separated by their son Tane Mahuta (God of the Forests). It was Ranginui’s tears that fell onto the earth and became the sacred rivers of the people of our land. The wairua or spirit of the river help guide the people home when they do not know which way to go. 

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ONE: The Earth Rises was a dance project by the Due Drop Events Centre Schools Programme in partnership with AUT and the Ministry of Education's LEOTC Programme. It is supported through the Auckland Diversity Project Fund of Creative New Zealand and Foundation North.

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On June 27, performers from UNITEC Performing Arts School, James Cook High School and the Auckland Chinese Philharmonic Choir, presented the dance project, ONE - The Earth Rises, in anticipation of the full performance later in the year.

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The project narrated the whakapapa of the Manukau region, with untold stories inspired by local Maori traditions and the development of Chinese market gardens in the Manukau area. Award-winning choreographer Moss Patterson (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), fused traditional and contemporary dance forms with striking live visual projections from sand artist Marcus Winter aka the Sandman with electronic and choral soundscapes created by Paddy Free from Pitch Black fame. These three incredible collaborators took the project to another level, by gracing it with incredible sound, mighty projection and banging visuals in celebration of our diversity and our very own stories.

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The project was showcased on June 27 to over 400 people, including five schools. You can view photos from the project in the gallery above.