Rotorua-born dancer Taiaroa Royal is the choreographer of a new show, The Choice, to open next week at the Blue Baths. Photo / Stephen Parker
The Blue Baths' latest show is to open in Rotorua at the end of next week. Head of News Kelly Makiha finds out from the Rotorua-born choreographer Taiaroa Royal what it's like to live the dream of being a fulltime dancer.
Tell us about yourself.
Te Arawa te waka
Uenukukopako te
hapu
Tarawera te maunga
Okareka te moana"
Pikirangi te marae
Ko Taiaroa Te Kereihi raua ko Joyce Kaperiera oku matua
Ko Taiaroa Royal toku ingoa
No Rotorua ahau
Tihei mauriora!
What sort of work have you been up to recently?
I've just finished directing Kirihimete o te Rangatahi, a Christmas youth project for my company, Okareka Dance Company. In August I was touring K'Rd Strip - A Place to Stand, another Okareka Dance Company project, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Tell us about the Okareka Dance Company.
Formed in 2007, Okareka was established to fuse contemporary dance with indigenous Maori themes and other genres to create authentic, diverse works. Led by senior performers Taane Mete and Taiaroa Royal, Okareka has become one of New Zealand's most sought after and prolific dance companies.
Okareka holds its provenance close to its heart. Through choreography, set design, and costume, the company strives to tell bold, spiritual stories that are of and from New Zealand. Through careful collaboration the company seeks to extend its creativity and its influence by engaging experienced artists from around the globe - the sole driver - to create evocative, beautiful dance works that tell a story. Okareka is a company guided by Maori beliefs. These beliefs are brought to its work and its audiences.
WHANAU (FAMILY)
Whether people are brought together by blood, or a similar intention, excellence is reached through group effort and energy, through collaboration and the sharing of dreams. The individual can only reach greatness through the efforts of the many.
MANA (HONOUR AND INTEGRITY)
Stay true to who you are and express yourself openly and honestly. Be proud of where you come from and treat those who have come before you with respect. Honour your teachers. Pass on your expertise. Work hard at what you do.
MATATAKI (CHALLENGE)
Seek to know and understand yourself. Search constantly for ways to grow and create opportunities for others to do the same. Do not settle for mediocrity. Be provocative. The judgment of others is not your concern.
How did you get involved in dancing?
Through disco dancing in the '70s here in Rotorua. I was the 1978 disco dance champion of the Bay of Plenty. In 1982 I studied formal training in dance at the NZ School of Dance in Wellington.
What do you love about it?
It's a unique way of expressing oneself, telling stories and communicating through movement to an audience and receiving their response and feedback, is what I love about it. Plus travelling the world and meeting amazing people from all walks of life.
What's involved in being good at dancing?
Dedication, hard work, self confidence, self belief, an open mind, patience, passion and of course talent!
What's been the highlight of your career so far?
Oh my gosh, there are too many to mention. I guess being able to still do my craft at the beautiful age of 55!
Tell us about The Choice and your role?
My role in The Choice is choreographer. I have choreographed all the group numbers in the show plus have overseen all movement aspects required in the performance.
How will it feel being back in Rotorua doing this show?
This is my second time choreographing for this talented company. It is funny that I've returned to the place where I learned how to swim and now I'm choreographing shows there. So funny how life circles.
How have Jo Romanes and Blue Baths helped improve Rotorua's arts and culture scene?
Jo Romanes and the company at the Blue Baths have certainly lifted the arts and culture scene of Rotorua. Jo along with musical director, Darlene Mohekey and writer Jess Sayer, are an amazingly creative team that are not afraid to take a risk and present original productions that are fast becoming the envy of many theatre organisations around New Zealand.
What's next for you?
A trans-gender musical, taking Mana Wahine (another Okareka production that premiered in Rotorua in 2014) to Brisbane and schools workshops around the motu.
What else do you want to mention?
It is great to be working back in my home town and to be part of a production that is full of all the things I love - talent, passion and down right hard work!
- The Choice plays from January 22 to February 26 at the Blue Baths. Go to bluebaths.co.nz for more details.