Tūmahana

Kahurangi Bronsson-George - The Narrator

Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Porou, Scotland

Ōtautahi-born Kahurangi Bronsson-George has always been surrounded by creativity, coming from a musical whānau. At 16, he joined the Circus (without needing to run away) at Circo Arts, and there was no turning back. He has trained and performed in many spaces, including the Wellington Circus Hub, the Dust Palace, Spin Circus Academy in Australia, and is now one of the few Aotearoans to hold a Circus degree, gained at Te Auaha. He is currently working on multiple Māori Circus Theatre projects, including his solo show, Iti Kahurangi. Kia kaha!

So ends the premiere of the show and this boosted campaign...

Tūmahana is a roaring success and we could not have done it without you.

All our love goes out to the myriad of folk who helped make this experience magical and inspirational & too the thousands of tamariki who came to the shows today and ripped the roof off with their voices :)

Tukua te wairua kia rere ki ngā taumata

Hai ārahi i ā tātou mahi

Me tā tātou whai i ngā tikanga a rātou mā

Kia mau kia ita

Kia kore ai e ngaro

Kia pupuri

Kia whakamaua

Kia tina! TINA! Hui e! TĀIKI E!

Allow one's spirit to exercise its potential

To guide us in our work as well as in our

pursuit of our ancestral traditions

Take hold and preserve it

Ensure it is never lost

Hold fast.

Secure it.

Draw together! Affirm!

From the cast (pictured) and the crew of Tūmahana

Kia tūtaki - Until next time.

There are truly few words to describe the feelings we have after last nights premiere of Tūmahana. Wehi Nā! Oh my goodness. Mīharo ana mātou - We are amazed!

To have a house full of humans on their feet at the end of the show - he roimata. I te aroaro o tatou Tūpuna. We are overwhelmed with your tautoko and so thrilled that the performance was a shared harikoa for us all. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.

A reflection of the transformational power of the arts to embue life with gorgeous meaning.

Today we rest, because tomorrow Monday, we will be performing two free shows of Tūmahana to over 4000 tamariki from Ōtautahi. Hohenga! Let's Go!

:)

We've just received a large koha/donation from a very kind soul which has made us reach our $4000 target! Amazing! We're ecstatic...

From the bottom of our hearts and the top of our spirits - Thank You All. To everyone who donated, everyone coming to the show, and to everyone else who has sent us their love and support. Ehara koutou i a ia - We will do you proud!

We're packing into the Town Hall now and can't wait to bring you this awesome story of creation.

There is still a few days left if you'd still like to donate to the campaign - we're safe as houses now. Bless.

Anō Te Pai! We're at 75% on the campaign with only 1 week to go...

Have a read of this article about Tūmahana hot off the press!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/124597790/kapa-haka-circus-skills-and-orchestra-combine-for-new-christchurch-show

Juanita Hepi - Artistic Director

Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Wai, Ngā Puhi, Moriori

Juanita is a multidisciplinary storyteller, producer, director, researcher and writer. She holds a Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership with distinction, a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Arts from Toi Whakaari, NZ Drama School. Juanita has performed in NZ’s leading venues; The Court Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, Bats, Auckland Town Hall and internationally at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. She recently narrated Peter and the Wolf with the CSO, featured in WORD Spring Festival 2020 and regularly features in arts based podcasts, panels and presentations across Aotearoa, NZ.

Danny Lee Syme - Co-director / Head Trainer / Rehua 

Danny is a sixth-generation Cantabrian of Germanic/Scandinavian/Scottish descent, and identifies as Tangata Tiriti. He is a performing artist, director, teacher, producer and choreographer with extensive experience in circus, martial arts, physical theatre, acting and dance. He was a founding member of the Christchurch Circus Trust, The Loons Circus Theatre Company and Circotica. He is trained in the martial arts and achieved an Oceania Gold Medal in Kung Fu/Wushu. He holds a Diploma in Circus Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and has a Masters of Professional Practice. Danny is at the forefront of circus and physical theatre in Aotearoa/NZ and has recently established Cirko Kali as a continuing framework to grow and develop circus arts in Christchurch.

Aaron Hāpuku - Kaiārahi Mau Rākau

Aaron is a Christchurch based performer, actor and Māori weaponry teacher that hails from Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Tahinga. He has been involved in Māori Performing Arts, theatre and traditional weaponry for a number of years. Aaron is the kaiako (Taura Pouwhakarae) for Te Whare Tū Taua o Waitaha, the Christchurch branch of Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa - The International School of Māori Weaponry. He is also an Ahorei under Tū Toka Tū Ariki, a Christchurch based organisation that teach mau taiaha to men and boys of all ages. His current and past experiences include being a regular performer at Te Matatini with Te Ahikaaroa & Te Ahikōmau a Hamo Te Rangi. He is a current member of Free Theatre Christchurch and travelled and performed internationally over the years with roopū such as Shaky Isles, Ngāti Rānana and Manaia (UK based) and as a member of Moana & The Tribe. Aaron now works at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha - Canterbury University as a Māori Health Lecturer and researcher.   

Ka Mau Te Wehi!!! We're at 39% - Keep it coming Whānau :)

Tūmahana is the start of something beautiful. As a project and a show - our intention is to build on the work and spread the story and the arts it represents to communities throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand. In particular, teaching our Rangatahi - Toi Māori and Circus Arts.

We're off to a flying start - a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far!!!

Aroha Nui.

Follow CIRKO KALI on facebook for cast profiles and other updates too...

Celina Nogueira - Pokohārua Te Pō / Hineateao

Celina became an artistic gymnast at the young age of 6, in Portugal, carrying on with the sport through her move to New Zealand in 2013. At 15, she retired from practicing and turned to teaching. Not a year later, she found her place at the Circus, and has since become a performing artist with both aerial and ground-based skills and experience. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts as a Sculpture student, and is always looking for ways to combine visual and performing arts. Celina was recently seen at Rhythm & Alps 2020/21, Lyttelton Cabaret at LAF 2020, Splore 2020 and ChCh is Lit 2019.

Kris Jones - Takaroa (Paia)

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu

Kris is an emerging performer and choreographic leader in the Māori theatre and performing arts. He is the recipient of the prestigious Monte Ohia Supreme Award from ARA, and a member of both Tu Toka Tu Ariki Taiaha Wānanga and Te Whare Tu Taua o Waitaha. Kris has been a huge contributor to the costume aspect of Tūmahana, he currently teaches at Ngā Hau e Whā Marae, he has performed in He Kura E Huna Ana at The Court Theatre, the Development Season of Tūmahana 2020 and at the Lefkada Cultural Festival in Greece. 

We've just hit the 25% mark and we're on track - $3000 to get in just over 3 weeks - Yahoo!

Many profound thanks to everyone who have donated a koha so far :)

& to everyone thinking about donating Arohanui - Me Haere/Let's Go!

Fualili Jahnke-Waitoa - Papatūānuku / Hineatepō

Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi, Tainui, Samoan, German

Fualili is a Kotahi Mano Kāika Advisor, where she promotes and supports the growth of te reo Māori within Kāi Tahu homes.  Fualili has a double degree in Māori Language and Indigenous Studies and Māori Performing Arts. She has had over 10 years of experience in the kapa haka realm and began her journey to theatre in 2015 during the development season of He Kura E Huna Ana written by Hōhepa Waitoa. Fualili is an emerging physical theatre performer and she is excited to develop and grow new skills in circus and aerial arts.

Waikahutia Tamati-Tupa’i - Raki

Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Sāmoa

Waikahutia is Year 12 and a student rep on the board at his school Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi. Excelling in Kapahaka, Mau Rākau, Waka Ama and an emerging leader in Kāi Tahu, Waikahutia has toured Hawaii and Silicone Valley deepening his skills and knowledge in Indigenous futures. Raised with te reo Māori as his first language, he starred as a young presenter for two Māori Television programmes Kia Mau and Mīharo. He also performed as part of Moss Patterson’s (Atamira Dance Company) dance production, Rūaumoko.

Destiny Beynon - Hineatauira

Destiny has experience in Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. She has been dancing since the age of 4 with Southern Ballet and Convergence dance studios. In 2019, she was awarded a scholarship to Danceworks London, took part in Showbiz New Zealand’s Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and was a PACANZ semi-finalist. She has also gained distinction in her Advanced 2 BBO and RAD ballet and NZAMD Solo Diploma Jazz and contemporary. Destiny recently performed as a member of EPIC entertainment, performed solo in Kate Owen’s video for her song Lullaby and currently teaches at Dance Central Classical Ballet Academy.

Manu Lee Syme-Hepi - Tāne

Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi, Waitaha

Manu is Year 11 at Haeata Community Campus, he has performed in some of Christchurch’s leading venues including Te Papa Hou YMCA, The Gloucester Room at the Isaac Theatre Royal, The Aurora Centre and in the Ron Ball Studio at the CSO. Manu is trained in martial arts, he is passionate about music, kapahaka, softball and basketball and has been raised in the industry by his creative leader parents; Juanita Hepi and Danny Syme, which has exposed him to writers, dancers, directors, musicians and artists throughout his life.