Infamous comments about the Pacific Islands made by New Zealand radio host Heather du Plessis-Allan is the inspiration behind the headline act at this month’s Pacific Dance Festival in Auckland.
Leeches, directed by Otara artist and choreographer Aloalii Tapu explores the Pasifika experience of living in New Zealand.
“I wanted it to be more of a celebration than anything of who we are and our experiences of living in a eurocentric country” says Tapu.
“[The dance] has nothing to do with responding to du Plessis-Allan, I’m interested in this power in deciding who we are rather than someone else deciding for us.”
Newstalk ZB’s host du Plessis-Allan came under fire last year after calling the Pacific Islands “leeches” during a discussion in a radio broadcast about the Prime Minister’s decision to attend the Pacific Island’s forum in Nauru.
“I mean, it’s the Pacific Islands,” she said. “What are we going to get out of them? They are nothing but leeches on us. I mean, the Pacific Islands want money from us. We don’t need money from them.”
Tapu says “What I think that comment did was perpetuate this otherness regardless of the fact that New Zealand is a part of the Pacific Islands.”
“[I wanted] to challenge this idea of what it means to be Pasifika Island and what that means for the modern-day young person living as a Kiwi but having Pacific Island roots.”
The performance features eight award-winning and internationally acclaimed dancers; Braedyn Humphries, Connor ‘Ooshcon’ Masseurs, Elijah Kennar, Faith Schuster, Jahra ’Rager’ Wasasala, Sione Fataua, Taniora Motutere, Tori Manley-Tapu who are just a handful of Pacific talent to feature in this year’s annual festival.
Both local and international performers of Pacific heritage will be in action throughout month in a range of showcases including theatre production, film screenings and free public dance workshops across Auckland.
The festival launched at ASB Waterfront Theatre on Wednesday and runs till June 23.