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BLACK GRACE (DVD)
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Dop 2008, USA
dvd
When Black Grace, a dance troupe of Pacific Islander and Maori men, first burst onto the New Zealand stage in 1995, they were a revelation. Fusing traditional Pacific and contemporary dance forms with athleticism and grace, they electrified audiences. Led by Artistic Director Neil Ieremia, Black Grace evolved from a crew of Neil's "mates" into one of New Zealand's national treasures and conquered the world's dance festivals culminating with Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. This film follows Black Grace's journey from Cannon's Creek, a small town outside of Wellington, New Zealand to the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the oldest one of its kind in North America. DVD includes Objects, Relentless, and Human Language performances; master class with Neil Ieremia, Black Grace choreographer; and interview with Ella Baff from the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.
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MICHAEL KING: A MOMENT IN TIME (dvd)
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dop 2008, Auckland
dvd
New Zealand biographer and historian, Michael King, talks intimately in this film, about major moments in his professional life as a writer and popular historian. Filmed in 1991, and completed for the International Festival last year, this film captures a ‘moment in time’ where King discusses the controversial position of a pakeha (non-Maori) writing about Maori people, issues and our identity as New Zealanders.
Filmmakers Clare O’Leary and Glenis Giles offer this interview as a ‘found conversation’ with King, a voice now missed in the ongoing dialogue of race, culture and identity. Available now on DVD, this insightful documentary is a wonderful companion to his books and a tribute to King’s contribution to our cultural dialogue over his lifetime.