If you have ever visited Lake Taupō in the central North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand you will know it is a special place. Formed by an ancient volcano the lake stretches from the town of Taupō to the central volcanic plateau. It is a beautiful location and a place where the weather can be very changeable.
100 Winds / Taupō Hau Rau is a musical and movement collaboration between Chamber Music New Zealand, The New Zealand Dance Company, and the New Zealand String Quartet that celebrates and captures the beauty of the lake.
Steeped in the stories and experiences of local iwi with the forces of nature, choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson fuses the work of 20th Century composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich with wonderfully fluid and evocative dance.
Glass and Reich’s compositions are in the minimalist style and were delightfully performed by the New Zealand String Quartet. In Glass’ case, the music was somewhat evocative of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – at times lively, in others, sombre and grave. Reich’s piece was called Clapping Music and the four musicians masterfully clapped while the dancers performed – it was wild and uplifting.
Patterson’s aim was to capture a sense of uncertainty we all feel in life and how we can learn, literally and figuratively, from the winds we face in life.
It worked.
The choreography was magical and was immaculately performed by ‘Isope ‘Akau’ola, Eden Kew, Caterina Moreno, and Anya Down. These four became perfect physical embodiments of the wind. Whether it be as a full ensemble, or two at a time or even a sole dancer on stage, the fluidity and interpretation of the work was remarkable – their enactment of the wind was sometimes gentle and playful, sometimes erratic and even tempestuous. From relentless gales to minor eddies, these four were mesmerising.
It is always a delight to see how artists use symbolism to tell stories of our world and environment. In 100 Winds / Taupō Hau Rau this set of artists have created an exciting and truly dynamic piece of work which melds various cultural and natural elements into an exquisite tapestry of music and motion.
100 WINDS / TAUPŌ HAU RAU
29 March – 5 April 2025
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
