The Kate Martin School of Dance from Levin won the MayDay Cup in front of an enthusiastic and at times rowdy audience of more than 500 at the Regent on Broadway last weekend.
The 16 young dancers wove three topical and relevant contemporary dance pieces into a larger work called Youth of Aotearoa.
They created powerful imagery in Office Mob as they walked over people on stage, demonstrated great timing moving into Treaty, and concluded with the hip-hop/haka combination of Nga Iwi E. At times they held placards protesting youth rates and state asset sales.
New Zealand Art Laureate and singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto rocked the Regent in the second half, with a wonderfully intimate set of songs that paid tribute to those who fought and continue to fight for workers rights. Moana was joined by the electronic keyboard wizard Paddy Free from Pitch Black and the hugely experienced funk guitarist Cadzow Cossar. Their haunting Which Side Are You On was a highlight, followed closely by Rebel, Timor, Ancestors, and a special performance of Treaty, along with a stunning encore. Their wealth of overseas touring experience showed out in their sharp professional performance.
In between music and dance, projected onto the giant backwall screen, were well thought out presentations about ongoing campaigns: the "living wage"; and against new changes in the Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
There was plenty of laughter as the audience expressed its opposition to the sale of state assets and the TPPA.
Palmerston North City Councillor Chris Teo Sherrell showed striking video clips of the pollution of the Manawatu River, introducing the Manawatu River Song, sung by the Brazen Hussies and accompanied by 12-year-old Rosa Hehir on guitar. Rosa had been at the songwriters' workshop that put together that song the day after the May Day concert last year
Wellington band Spanner in the Works demonstrated their abundant talent as they punched out their jazzed-up arrangements of Power in a Union and Solidarity Forever.
The six-piece rockers The Crew were a crowd favourite as they played up to their banner-waving supporters.
All are proud young and vibrant members of the RMTU and they showed great variation, from originals to adapting cover versions.
New Zealand Music Month was very much front and centre as Luc from France (on vocals and guitar) performed the Dave Dobbyn tune of James K Baxter's poem Song of the Years, to Tessa and Kate's evocative contemporary dance choreography.
The Brazen Hussies launched their first ever CD after 23 years (19 in a row at the May Day Concert) with lovely harmonies in songs depicting the struggles of women through the ages. They dedicated Bella Ciao to the "Cuban 5" - incarcerated in a US prison - and ended their set with a strong audience response to Join a Union, to the tune of the Village People's YMCA.
The five judges for the MayDay Cup included the 'Charge d'affairs' from the Cuban Embassy, Manuel Sanchez, who loaned out the Cuban flag for the evening as it flew from the top of the stage. He brought out the international solidarity flavour to the night.
Not a bad night out for union members, their families and communities.