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Please note: the links in this resource were correct and functional at the time of publication. Given the nature of the Internet, TKI cannot guarantee all are still working. The New Zealand Festival 2000 was held from 3 - 26 March 2000 in Wellington. The festival comprised 100 different events featured in and outside theatres and concert halls. As the programme put it, "you can experience grand opera and soap bubble theatre, bizarre and brilliant images from Italy, Irish blarney, Bach and balalaikas." This week's Hot Topic points you to the most interesting of acts from some of the festival sections. Music Al-Kindi Ensemble (Syria) The music of the Moorish empire (from Arabia to Spain) performed by Julien Jalal Eddine Weiss and his Al-Kindi Ensemble. Middle-Eastern music links: See the huge "Arab Music" site http://trumpet.sdsu.edu/M151/Arab_Music1.html. Dans Paleis Te Vaka (New Zealand) Vocalist and songwriter Opetaia Foa'i leads this ten-piece group in blending influences from all over the Pacific. Includes traditional drumming, dancing and costuming, and uses traditional and contemporary instruments. Pacific music links: Moana and the Moahunters used traditional Maori instruments in recording latest their last album. Read an interview about the band's work with Neil Finn on Maori arrangements using traditional instruments at http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_zealand_music_scene/5702. Go to http://waiata.maori.org.nz/trad_ins/index.htm for an illustrated feature on traditional Maori instruments. Go to http://web.mit.edu/arts/music/maori_jazz.html for a brief but interesting look at "Korero: Confluence of Two Cultures". Bernard Makoare's Pacific Jazz Arts Ensemble combines Maori and American musicians, and Maori and western instruments. Dance Cool Heat Urban Beat (United States) CHUB, "one of the most exciting American dance shows" combine hip hop breakdancing (using turntables and a drummer's kit) with frenetic jazz tapdancing. Interesting combination of Afro-American dance, old and new. Dance links: Culture Finder, an Internet arts database, has a concise directory of famous dancers at http://www.culturefinder.com/artsresources/dance. The Brazilian martial art style capoeira combines elements of dance and was created by African slaves approximately 400 years ago: http://www.capoeirasj.com. Theatre Chijinkai Theatre Company, The Great Doctor Yabuhara (Japan) An historical comedy/drama set in 17th century Japan. The main character's ambition is to join the Kengyo, an exclusive class of blind men. Programme listing for theatre: http://www.nzfestival.telecom.co.nz/genre.asp?genre=4. Japanese theatre links: For types of Japanese theatre see http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e637.html. (Also see the Ministry of Education’s curriculum information on the arts at http://www.tki.org.nz/teaching/thearts/index.php3.) |
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