A journey through stars, sea, mountains and moon, for the whole whānau.

The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) presents the premiere season of Matariki for Tamariki by accomplished New Zealand dancer and choreographer Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu), proudly a part of Auckland’s Matariki Festival and the Auckland Live Kids 2019 season.

A celebration for the whole family, Sean brings to life a world where a band of players, a group of friends, and a whānau travel throughout Aotearoa and its landscape of lush ngahere (forests), mighty maunga (mountains), and majestic moana (oceans), encountering the flora and fauna through seasonal changes. The journey begins and ends through the dawning and setting of the Matariki whetū (star) constellation.

Along the way, the performers inhabit the wairua (spirit) of each of the nine whetū of Matariki, and through their adventures use the power and meaning of karakia (prayer), ritual, waita (song) and whakapapa (lineage) to plant the seeds of new beginnings for hope for the future ahead. 

Sean’s majestic choreography, paired with evocative costume and set design by Rona Ngahuia Osborne, as well as spectacular sound design by Alistair Deverick, will leave kids and “kidaults” alike filled with joy and gratitude for the whenua (land) we call home. 

Relaxed performance scheduled for 11am, Saturday 13 July.

Photo by John McDermott. Illustration by Ruby Glover