Kia ora, my name is Hadleigh Pouesi.
I am a Pacific creative who serves as the CEO and Artistic Director of the Fresh Movement Arts Trust.
My background is in Hip Hop dance but I also have a history as a musician and vocalist. I work as a youth development practitioner and use my craft as a creative as a tool to engage at-risk young people.
I create numerous commercial and theatre based works with artists from the Fresh Movement collective and have written, directed and choreographed four full length shows this year.
I hope to take the stories that we make to new audiences in hopes of bringing inspirations and encouragement to more young people.
Organisation/Company
Name: Fresh Movement Arts Trust
My Role: CEO and Artistic Director
Fresh Movement Arts Trust is a collective of young creatives (choreographers, dancers, musicians, vocalists, spoken word artists, actors, and rappers) who are looking to develop more career pathways in the arts industry, create more platforms to showcase our craft and tell our uniquely Pacific stories and to take our stories beyond the shores of Aotearoa so that they can impact the world.
Fresh Movement Arts Trust is a registered charitable trust.
Fresh Movement not only create "fresh" and innovative works, but also provide free creative mentoring programmes in schools and community centres for hundred of under resourced and vulnerable young people.
Fresh Movement's vision is "to be a home for artists, and a waka for stories".
MĀUI
Artform: Dance Theatre
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Full Length
Synopsis
Māui is a dance theatre work that breaks down the characteristics of the Pacific demi-god and dives into the many tales of Māui. Beautiful animation serves to push the narrative forward and energetic dancing, live music and spoken word carries the energy from scene to scene.
Māui opens with the story of Pacific migration and how our stories, myths and legends travelled throughout the Pacific, as our mighty Pacific warriors conquered the largest of all the oceans.
From there, the story is told in chapters, with each scene highlighting a tale of Māui and a characteristic shown through his adventures. The chapters are titled;
- Māui the Loved
- Māui the Resilient
- Māui the Joyful
- Maui the Prophet
- Māui the Powerful
- Māui the Defeated
- Māui the Eternal
Each chapter has a different tone and uses different crafts to paint the picture of Māui with vivid and beautiful animation being used to push the narrative forward. The show culminates by reflecting on the traits of Māui and putting the mirror up to the audience to realize that the traits of the demi-god are within them also.
Māui is a 60min work and boasts a 20-25 person cast. Māui is an inspiring, thought provoking and energetic theatre work that is designed to engage young people into the theatre and the wider arts sphere.
Creative Team and Crew
Hadleigh Pouesi - Creative Director / Choreographer
Christopher Ofanoa - Choreographer
Leilani Elliott - Choreographer
Spencer Earwaker - Production Manager
Whitney Tuitasi - Producer / Stage Manager
Tony O'Rourke - Music Director
CAST
Hadleigh Pouesi, Christopher Ofanoa, Leilani Elliott, Kimberley Evans, Mita Aporo, Zhan Teiho, William Rakena, Jiordyn Hoeft, Maestro Lemon, Morgan Johnson, Sarah Williams, Desney Fritz, Bianca Tiatia, Tiana Tanielu, Kiahan Simmons-Tipau, Emma Huch, Ethan Scharneck, Jay Richmond, Melissa Sripromma, Shalom Teikamata, Luther Manu, Jessie Witere, Gibson Harris, Tony O'Rourke, Daniel Haurua-Clubb
Number of People in the Touring Party
28
Previous Seasons
Auckland Fringe Festival 2019 - Auckland Town Hall, Concert Chamber (2 sold out shows)
Pacific Dance Festival 2019 - Mangere Arts Centre (1 sold out show)
Pacific Dance Festival 2021 - ASB Water Front Theatre (5 sold out shows)
Measina Festival 2021 - Online festival (667 full length views over two days)
Pacific Dance Festival 2022 / Auckland Live - Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre (3 sold out shows)
Upcoming Self funded show 2023 - Wellington Opera House (late March 2023)
Reviews and Quotes
We have only had our inaugural season professionally reviewed, which isn't a true representation of what the work has become ... that review can be found here;
http://www.theatrescenes.co.nz/review-maui-auckland-fringe/
The following are media pieces that were done in the lead up to our latest season at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre;
Maui on Tagata Pasifika
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Maui on the Spinoff
https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/23-06-2022/maui-show-making-a-comeback-for-matariki
Maui on Tearaway
https://tearaway.co.nz/fresh-movements-maui-takes-the-stage/
Maui on Radio New Zealand
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018846791/maui-teaching-youth-life-skills
Our social media is flooded with positive reviews from audience members and we have been sent emails like the following from people who have watched Maui:
Dear Auckland Live,
I hope this message gets delivered to the team of Maui, the show was incredible and they need the praise and appreciation.
Dear cast and crew of Maui,
I attended your show on Thursday 23rd June, 7pm and it is the best show I have ever attended. Please have more shows, I will buy all of the tickets.
I loved how it included elements from the difference islands of the pacific. The sasa from Samoa always brings a smile to my face. It’s so enjoyable to watch and amazing how the performers are always in sync.
The ura from the Cook Islands is where I uncontrollably balled my eyes out. Being from Rarotonga I had not realised how homesick I am and how much I miss the dancing, drums, food and my aunties.
And then the part of overlapping the English alphabet song with the Māori a e i o u. Powerful statement.
This show was so good! There were moments of laughter and smiles and moments of tears. Such an emotion piece that I feel so privileged to have witnessed.
Kindest regards,
Tatiana Kneebone
We hope this evidence highlights the public response to our show.
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.