Enter a realm of mystery, magic, light and sound and discover curious beings that inhabit the Enchanted Forest. Ethereal creatures emerging and floating in the morphing darkness of the canopy overhead, shapeshifting sprites dancing from shadow to shadow on the forest floor; fleeting moments of sorcery and bewitchment, they seek to mesmerise all who venture within.
Enchanted Forest is a collaborative performance environment, one minute the forest is bathed in shimmering light, the next prepare for much more than meets the eye, as you never know what’s frolicking in the dark.
Soundscape by Wellington musician and producer Ed Zuccullo
MOTHS
Floating high in the Forest’s canopy, a group of silk droplets promise burgeoning life. Slowly but surely, growing and stretching, three creatures begin to grow..
Emerging from within their dark and magical cocoons, the Moth-like creatures unfold, suspended in an explorative dance in the nocturnal air-scape of their mysterious world.
PERFORMERS:
Abigail Rose (Director, aerialist)
Rochelle Brophy (Aerialist)
Chloe Loftus (Aerialist)
Tym Miller-White (Rigger)
www.abigailrose.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/abigailmarionrose/
Abigail Rose is the concept designer of ‘Moths’, a piece inspired by the canopy of the night forest and the air-born creatures that live amongst the shadows, seeking light.
Abigail creates and produces aerial dance pieces, overlapping them with circus and space.
Through a 15 year career, and a love for inspiring remote international communities through performance, she has evolved from performing corde-lisse (aerial rope), to teaching aerial calisthenics and telling stories through aerial harness and crane performances. Inspired by strong independent aerial women, who perform, teach and create with no excuses. She lives in Central Otago with her baby (when they are not travelling around NZ together & teaching).
SPELLBOUND
Dance Plant Collective
Dance Plant Collective have created ‘Spellbound’, a magical movement and light show that follows some unusual characters living in LUMA’s Enchanted Forest. Join this journey and you will meet an ethereal Witch who will be your guide through this mystical world. Follow along to encounter a group of Forest Spirits, two Lovers trapped in a precarious duet, and Shapeshifters as they dance their way through the shadows.
Whimsical, dark, mysterious and playful, Spellbound is not to be missed this year at LUMA.
Dance Plant Collective is a contemporary dance-theatre company based in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Our vision is to create politically challenging and transformative performance work. The roots of our practice are planted in a desire to nurture community, the body as a locus of understanding and uphold the interconnectedness of all things.
Dance Plant Collective’s work has spread throughout New Zealand with award-winning and sold-out performances that offer collaborative opportunities and a community based approach.
ARTISTS:
Natasha Kohler, Jaz Yahel, Brittany Kohler, Bella Wilson, Tūī Hofmann, Fa’asu Afoa Purcell, Katrina Bastian, Sam Folkard, Paul Bennett, Michael Hodgson
FIVE EYES
Vospertron presents ‘Five Eyes’, the glowing, ever-watching sky creatures haunting the enchanted forest. Rare and elusive these technology-based lifeforms have escaped their owners to form their own community in the canopy.
Observe closely- the Five Eyes can transform to their previous shapes, a mutation from the days of working for humankind. We still don’t know their purpose but so far they seem fairly harmless.
ARTIST:
Peter Vosper
Vospertron was founded in 2002 by Peter Vosper, an engineer, graphic designer and dancer that decided to create his own company to develop this collaboration. His techniques electronic costumes and motion graphics developed and grew during the last 15 years, making Vospertron one of the most respected glow dance groups worldwide.
www.vospertron.net
Insta @vospertron
Pixie Whiplers
Meet the mischievous Late Night Pixie Whiplers! This Trio of Luminous Forest Creatures will weave patterns of light in and out of the shadows. Whipping up their magic through the trees with their vivid light whips and fluttering wings. Discover each playful character dancing with fire, earth and water, slipping from one world to the next.
Part of the fairy kingdom these whimsical yet offbeat characters represent the wilder side of ethereal and may incite you to break into your wilder side. Watch out for when the Pixie Whiplers come together for their trio dance, a bewitching spell of movement and patterns.
The Pixie Whiplers will be alighting the forest from 7.30-9.30pm.
Amber Stephens Dance Collective
Choreographer and dancer Amber Stephens is a Queenstown local. Based for some time in Vienna Austria Amber made works for festivals such Stadtfest, City Festwochen, Vienna Art Biennale, in Brazil with CESC, whilst also creating dance theatre productions. Also a painter, many works have been merged live painting and dance and direct collaboration with musicians, dj’s such as Rubert Huber of Tosca. Other works in NZ include opening Fashion Week, the British Council Tour ‘People In Your Neighbourhood’. Most recently, LUMA 2019, Amber created the ‘Into the Shadows’ working with The Remarkables Theatre company as ghosts of the forest- heralding our past and the fauna of the forest.
With Petra Smejkalova
www.amberstephens.gallery
Insta: @amber_s_creative
THE FAERIES
Flame Entertainment
FLAME’S luminous, interactive and roving performance of ‘The Faeries’ bring to life the magic of nature and the power of imagination. Heart-warming and mind blowing, a glowing visual feast, The Faeries will raise up the vibes with their supernatural charms and inspired dance moves.
Love-Bombs
Flame Entertainment
“LOVEBOMB : The Unconditionals”
Be LOVE, let LOVE, live LOVE, dance LOVE, unconditionally every moment! Join the LOVE revolution with our two enormous playful luminous hearts!
FLAME Entertainment
FLAME Entertainment brings big gorgeous interactive performances with engaging acts that remind us of the beauty, frivolity and connection available through the art of play. Queenstown based since 2001 FLAME are expanding to the North Island. Follow their social media to keep up with the creative developments.
www.flameentertainment.co.nz
Insta: @flameentertainment
Photo: Arrested Light Photography
Photo: Tomas Otahal
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