Jack Gray (Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāt Kahungnu) is a Māori contemporary dancer, choreographer, teacher, facilitator and writer. He is a founding member and Artistic Director of Atamira Dance Company. Jack has worked on several international, interdisciplinary and intercultural projects, including Berkeley Dance Project, Cultural Informance Lab, Transformance Lab, I Moving Lab, Indigenous Dance Forum and more. His independent arts practice spans two decades and has taken him all over the world where he engages with Indigenous audiences & community centred spaces of learning, being and activation. Jack was a guest choreographer at UC Berkeley, a Visiting Assistant Professor at UC Riverside, Regents Lecturer at UC Los Angeles, and a visiting scholar and Spring Artist in Residence at Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University.
Organisation/Company
Name: Atamira Dance Company
My Role: Artistic Director
Iwi affiliation
Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahungunu
Rohe
My mother's side comes from the Hokianga #Mitimiti and my father's side from Tokomaru Bay #coastie I was born and raised in Waitakere, West Auckland
How I got where I am today
Guided to by my ancestral creativity
Whānau
My family are a mix of personalities, my global whanau are incredible survivors and thrivers
Something cool
Loved Dune
Te Wheke
Artform: Dance
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
This collaborative work marked the 21 year milestone of Atamira Dance Company bringing together Aotearoa’s leading names in contemporary dance choreography and performance including Arts Foundation Laureate Louise Potiki Bryant, Dolina Wehipeihana, Taane Mete, Kelly Nash, Gabrielle Thomas, Kura Te Ua and Bianca Hyslop.
These eight choreographic practitioners, with a cast of eight emerging and experienced dancers explored the dimensions of human experience through a matauranga Māori (knowldege) lens, symbolised by the eight tentacles of Te Wheke - the Octopus, a powerful guardian on this journey from past into future.
Developed by an experienced and inspired group of sound, costume, lighting and set design artists, the staged world of Te Wheke brings past present and future together. Solo and ensemble expressions of darkness and light occur within a shape shifting space of floating black silk. Layers of symbolism emanate through the magical AV patterning and mesmeric soundscapes with lighting enhancing all – both revealing and hiding.
Creative Team and Crew
Concept Jack Gray & Marama Lloydd
Artistic Director Jack Gray
Executive Producer Marama Lloydd
Assistant Directors Kelly Nash, Taane Mete
Choreographic Dramaturg Dolina Wehipeihana
Practitioners: Jack Gray, Bianca Hyslop, Taane Mete, Kelly Nash, Louise Potiki Bryant, Kura Te Ua, Gabrielle Thomas & Dolina Wehipeihana,
Performers 2021: Sean MacDonald, Eddie Elliott, Abbie Rogers, Cory-toalei Roycroft/ Brydie Colquhoun, Emma Cosgrave, Caleb Heke, Oli Mathiesen & Dana Moore-Mudgway
AV Design - Louise Potiki Bryant
Sound Design -Paddy Free
Set Design -John Verryt
Lighting Design -Vanda Karolczak
Costume Design - Marama Lloydd
Brand Campaign - Osborne Shiwan
Number of People in the Touring Party
14 comprising 8 dancers, Executive Director (tour manager, FOH) Artistic / Rehearsal Director, Production Manager, Stage Manager, LX Operator, Sound Operator.
Previous Seasons
Auckland Premiere:
ASB Waterfront Theatre. 11 & 12 June 2021. 2 public shows 1 schools matinee
Wellington:
Kia Mau Festival, Te Whaea Theatre. 17 - 19 June 2021. 4 public show 1 schools matinee
Christchurch:
James Hay Theatre, Town Hall. 24 June.2021. 1 public show 1 schools matinee
Whangarei:
Capitaine Bougainville Theatre, Forum North 13 August 2021. 1 public show 1 schools matinee
Gisborne:
Te Tai Rawhiti Arts Festival October 2021 - Covid Cancelled
Reviews and Quotes
"Te Wheke is sublimely fluid and unwaveringly beautiful." Megan Seawright - Theatreview
"the work unfolds with utter integrity and clarity. It offers a transcendent, magical experience with impeccable performances and production values." Lyne Pringle & Alesha Ahdar The Dominion Post
"a multi-layered feast of juicy hangi seasoned with their own brand of hot sauce."
"Te Wheke leaves you with an uplifted spirit knowing you have seen something special" Anton Carter - Theatreview
"There are moments that make you shudder and moments that have you on the edge of your seat. I would see this work again in a heartbeat." Leah Maclean - Regional News - Eyes on Wellington
"Te Wheke would leave anyone in awe of the transformational power of Māori storytelling through contemporary dance". Olivia Garelja Theatreview (Whangarei)
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
Tomo VR FILM (holding title)
Artform: Dance film
Development Status: In Development
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Synopsis
TOMO is a tale of wairua told through dance, light and architecture.
Choreographed by Gabrielle Thomas in 2019, with a premiere at Tempo Dance Festival, TOMO VR Film is an extension to the live performance work which was unable to tour in 2020 as intended.
TOMO interprets the proverbial heart of three wāhine travelling through Te Ao Kikokiko (the land of the living). A battle between self and the source begins when one lost and lonely wairua enters their world.
Diving between the boundaries of light (Tama Nui Te Ra) and darkness (Te Marama) TOMO evokes a hauntingly spellbinding experience and is therefore naturally suited to the VR world.
We are flagging this kaupapa to national and International Festival Directors or venues who may be exploring the VR world themselves and have the interest and the capability (VR Headsets) to screen the work.
Creative Team and Crew
Gabrielle Thomas - Choreographer and director
Ed Davis - Cameraman/ Director/ Editor
Performers: Sean MacDonald, Bianca Hyslop, Abbie Rogers, Kasina Campbell
Peter Hobbs (music)
Vanda Karolczak (design),
Number of People in the Touring Party
0-4. The film can travel solo - at times perhaps accompanied by the Choreographer, Atamira Directors or Filmmaker.
Previous Seasons
'Tomo' the dance work premiered at Tempo Dance Festival 2019
Remount and VR workshop 1with Ed Davis - July 2020
Workshop 2 December 2021 (TBC)
2022 dates of creation TBC
Reviews and Quotes
(From live show)
" The powerful work, choreographed by Gabrielle Thomas, highlights exactly why they are the leading producer of Māori Contemporary Dance.......TOMO is not only an extremely dynamic piece, but also is visually stimulating to watch. There is no denying the talent that TOMO holds, off�ering the audience a unique Maori contemporary dance experience." Lauren Sanderson DANZ
NGĀ WAI
Artform: Dance
Development Status: Tour Ready
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Drawing on mythology and historical figures set against the backdrop of Te Motu-o-Kura, Ngā Wai is a new full-length dance work from one of Aotearoa’s most distinguished dance artists – Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa)
Seers, shapeshifters, warrior protectors, lovers and thwarted romance from both history and mythology form the essence of this poetic new work inspired from the sacred waters and whakapapa of Waimārama, Sean’s ancestral home in the Hawkes Bay. Ngā Wai is about water and how that flows with everything, is in everything, the pool and flow of the moon and the maternal. It flows with connection, history and strength following the journey of Takitimu (migration waka) from Samoa to Waimārama.
“Waimārama has a very strong feminine energy and this work is designed to hold up mana and respect for the wahine toa of my whakapapa says MacDonald. The multi-faceted characters resurrected from tribal history to tell the tale of Ngā Wai are brought to life by a cast of exquisite dance artists and located in the worlds by a skilled design team.
Creative Team and Crew
Choreographer: Sean MacDonald
Dance artists: Bianca Hyslop, Brydie Colquhoun, Kasina Campbell, Jeremy Beck, Tupua Tigafua, Sean MacDonald.
Set Design - John Verryt
Lighting design- Vanda Karolczak ,
Sound and Composition -David Long
Costumes - Te Orihau Karaitiana
Campaign Design - Osborne Shiwan
Artistic Director - Jack Gray
Executive Producer ( tour manager) - Marama Lloydd
Production Manager -Vanda Karolczak -
Stage Manager - Sarah Briggs
Operator - Thomas Cross
Number of People in the Touring Party
11
Previous Seasons
Q Theatre, November 26-28 2020
Waimarama Hall, Waimarama Hawkes Bay - April 16 2021
Reviews and Quotes
" The choreography is organic and flows so effortlessly, intermittently injected with humour. The blend of contemporary dance and traditional Māori movement is seamless and skilful, and so too are the transitions between each section, seeping into each other. The music seems to fit the dance perfectly, ranging from primordial and ambient to driving, heavy distortion as the dancers explore their various worlds. The dancers themselves are stunning, all possessing obvious technique and skill, moving in and out of the floor, playing with rhythm, and partnering each other with ease" ........."what a show to present to audiences after this horrible, challenging year. Sean MacDonald's choreography flows and tests the strength and stamina of the dancers, and they do not fail to deliver."
Theatreview - by Nicole Wilkie, 27 Nov 2020
'....a cultivated and astute work. MacDonald crafts the body without its often-over-represented adherence to technical contemporary repertoire. It was there... but balanced to interface the expansive collage of Toi Māori knowledge that is significant to our storytellings.
Atamira acknowledge the “conscientious, glorious, rejuvenating and creative” mana of Sean MacDonald, and it is evident in his work. His experience to hold us safely is appreciated… his intent to remind and provoke… healing.
Theatreview: by Dr Tia Reihana-Morunga, 29 Nov 2020
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.