Naoto Segawa performs Multiple Percussion Works at the Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance

This program features music for percussion and audio track by John Psathas – one of the most celebrated composers in Aotearoa.

“Atalanta” is one of Psathas’s most successful works, shaped around the performers it was created on. It explores youthful love - two young spirits chasing each other.

“Mentacide” - an erasure of historical memory/a deadening form of historical and social amnesia has taken over/extreme violence and inequality are normalised/the marginalised are considered entirely disposable

This exciting work for snare drum queries a new social order that is inhabiting our lives.

We again introduce Tawa College dance students performing "Towards Midnight". It is played against a chilling interview covering the many imminent threats to human civilization, and the need for recognizing the truth of our situation.

“Relentless” was written for Zoi Argyriou. Psathas asked what made her truly angry at the moment. Her response was 'the treatment of women, by men, in Greece'. The confronting conversation a perfect impetus for a new work.

"Koolish Zein" is one of John Psathas’s latest works. The three parts of Koolish Zein look to evoke resonances of an imagined future. "Her Alchemy" emerges from women’s voices transformed digitally within the software alchemy. "London Busking 2149" imagines what it might be like busking in Trafalgar Square some 125 years from now. The up-tempo "Trimetrical Hub" begins in a Macedonian dance rhythm of 17/8 and eventually transforms into a high-spirited groove inspired by spirited Moroccan wedding dance in a lively 6/8.

Koolish Zein had an initial performance season as part of Classical on Cuba 2023 where BCA artists Callum Phipps and Zoe White collaborated with Naoto identifying moments to be highlighted within a structured, improvised dance performance. For this programme we have advanced and cemented the choreography and added more dancers to the 3rd movement.

Musician - Negato Segawa (Principal Percussionist, Orchestra Wellington)

BalletCollective Aotearoa Dancers: Zoe White, Callum Phipps, James Burchell, Gabriella Hawke, Kyoka Takahashi, Joshua Linkhorn

Students from Dance Program Tawa College

Kaioko: Sarah Holswich

Music: John Psathas

Lighting: Janis

Stage Manager: Elora Battah

Education Manager: Brigitte Knight

Photography: Gabriella Hawke

BCA is a contemporary dance collective of individuals passionate about making dance and being part of a vibrant and diverse arts community here in Aotearoa/New Zealand. While trained in classical ballet, we aim to explore new ways of expressing ourselves through dance, breaking down the stereotypes linked to ballet, and making dance accessible to kiwi audiences through homegrown collaboration. We also aim to offer movement experiences by trying to cater to different skill levels by going into schools. Here, we offer curriculum based learning by also sharing the physicality and creativity from learning through dance. Creating pathways for emerging artists to follow a career in the arts. We are thrilled to be able to share the stage with Tawa College dance students.