SkyCity dance show postponed over screen glitch

Auckland avant-garde dance theatre group Mau's production of Requiem was commissioned by the City of Vienna.

Four hundred guests had to be contacted urgently yesterday afternoon to inform them that last night's preview of the world premiere of a new dance work at SkyCity Theatre had been cancelled.

Auckland avant-garde dance theatre group Mau's production of Requiem was postponed because opaque screens used in rehearsals at the Corban Estate Arts Centre proved completely transparent when they were installed at SkyCity.

Mau is the company formed by choreographer Lemi Ponifasio, who was commissioned to create Requiem by the City of Vienna for the New Crowned Hope Festival in November to mark the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth.

"Requiem is all about life and death and these screens give off the effect that you are half there and half not," said publicist Amy Saunders.

"There is no point in having them if they are translucent. They are not giving the effect Lemi wants and he is such a perfectionist he was not prepared to go ahead."

The City of Vienna commission covers all production costs, including the rehearsal period and SkyCity preview season, which will now run tonight and Sunday.

No losses will be incurred over the cancellation.