‘Honoured, energised’

DIVERSITY IN DANCE: Many audience members who saw Tukutuku, a collaborative production of dance, music and spoken word at the Lawson Field Theatre yesterday, were clearly emotional after the show. The production involved Gisborne Girls’ High School special needs students, students with disabilities, student volunteers, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra musicians and Jolt Dance Company members. Tukutuku also involved several special moments, such as the floating moon-like globe followed by a floating student, as trained performers interacted seamlessly with the students to weave original songs, poems and dance routines in a production that showcased diversity and inclusiveness. Picture by Paul Rickard

A special magic shone out of a collaborative production of dance, music and spoken word at the Lawson Field Theatre yesterday. Called Tukutuku, the show lived up to its title as Gisborne Girls’ High School special needs students, students with disabilities, student volunteers, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musicians and Jolt Dance Company (JDC) members came together to weave original songs, poems and dance routines in a production that showcased diversity and inclusiveness.

“When I dance/ I’m happy and/ my heart is in love”, recited one student as another girl danced on the spot in the first work, Unbind Me.

“Unbind me from the rope/ and let me go,” said the young poet whose message resonated throughout the production.

For the piece Dr Beat, six girls took to a massive drum kit while a trombone player and three young dancers with squeaky toys in hand performed to big beats and the bright sound of brass. Caught up in the spirit of the item a girl in the front row of the audience joined the dancers and was soon joined by Jolt dancers and another audience member.

Throughout the production the Jolt performers and CSO musicians responded spontaneously with such impromptu or uninhibited moments and made them part of the flow.

Three student guitarists played on stage as a Jolt dancer in black glided and dipped around a girl in a wheelchair and lightly echoed her movements, glances and smiles.

The student’s wheelchair became an extension of CSO principal timpanist Mark La Roche’s drum kit during a performance of Land, Sea, Sky. La Roche opened the piece with light percussive rhythms as a Jolt dancer wheeled the student to him. La Roche moved around the kit to tattoo his drumsticks on parts of the wheelchair. The girl reached up to hug his bowed head then the floor erupted with energy at the student dancers took to the stage.

Tukutuku showcased diversity, said La Roche after the show ended with a standing ovation from a packed auditorium.

“We have been honoured, energised and inspired by you guys,” he told the performers.

“‘Take a leap of faith’ was what these students were told at the beginning.”

Tukutuku grew from a unique programme held at Girls’ High last year in which CSO community engagement programme educator La Roche, CSO first violinist Cathy Irons; Jolt Dance Company artistic director Lyn Cotton and JDC members Renee Ryan and Rochelle Waters collaborated with students to create a range of dances to music also performed by students. The innovative programme was last month awarded a highly commended certificate at Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards.