Merenia Gray Dance Theatre was founded in 1994. It is a freelance contemporary dance company that focuses on creating innovative multicultural Dance Theatre. MGDT relies on funding through Creative New Zealand and private corporate sponsorship. Merenia is the Artisic Director and she likes to work with performers that are classically trained with a secure contemporary technique and who have strong affiliations to Maori culture.

The company's works to date are:

• Rongo – Ma –Tane ( 2011)  Kowhiti Dance 2011 State Opera House
  “ its striking sculptural quality evoked Whakairo and contained strong aerial work by Tanemahuta Gray and a dynamic performance by Ivicia Novakovic”, DANZ Quarterly review, 2011 Ann Hunt
  

• Te Mana 2003, Soundings Theatre, Te Papa, Wellington
  Commissioned by Toi Maori Aotearoa
  
  Soulful Synthesis of Sound and Movement.
  "Choreographer Merenia Gray has created her most important work to date,
  with her premiere of the enigmatic and soulful Te Mana, in a short season at
  Te Papa's SoundingsTheatre"
  - Jenny Stevenson, Dominion Post. October 17 2003
  
  ' I left the theatre reminded of our responsibilities as NewZealanders to
  cherish our chance to be keepers of future generations, "ko te taonga whare
  tangata." '
  - Deirdre Tarrant, Capital Times. Oct. 16 2003
  
  
• Wild Civility 2001 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
  
  Wild Civility. Switch on your Answer phone.
  " it's a non-stop hour of carefully prepared and sequenced dancing ...
  poignant evidence of Gray's bicultural aesthetic. May I suggest you slip
  along to Wild Civility....you'll find confirmation in dance of the things
  you want ot believe in."
  Reviewed by Jennifer Shennan, The Evening Post, Thursday June 7 2001
  
  
• Alchemy 1998 Bats Theatre, Wellington Fringe Festival
  Best New Work in the 1998 Fringe Awards.
  Alchemy - dance - play magic not to be missed.
  The Alchemy of the title is at work in the choreography.... phone BATS
  early to book yourself on the waiting list for what will inevitabely be a
  sell - out season. Ahakoa iti, he pounamu.'
  - Reviewed by Jennifer Shennan, 'The Evening Post. Thursday, March 12, 1998.
  
  
• I.V.E. Interiors Versus Exteriors 1994 Taki Rua Depot Theatre, Wellington.
  
  
  
  
  

Merenia Gray

- choreographer, performer, teacher (ARAD, AISTD) with international experience ...developing dance theatre that is informed by kapa haka, contemporary dance and classical ballet ...

Choreography

Striving to be versatile with my choreography, I have enjoyed opportunities as varied as choreographing Rongo – Ma –Tane ( Kowhiti Dance 2011), the New Zealand Wearable Arts Awards (1998) and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance (2002).  The variety offered by these experiences complement the contemporary dance theatre that I have created and produced, such as Te Mana (2003), commissioned by Toi Maori Aotearoa, and Time Turned To Stone (2002), for the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

My experience extends beyond New Zealand, having staged my work in Hong Kong, Spain, France, Denmark and the United States.  In 1992, I toured my solo dance work, Ko Au—The Self, through Sydney, Munich, Seville, Paris and Copenhagen.  While living and working in Copenhagen in 1995/96, I performed for renowned New York choreographers Doug Varone and David Dorfman.  I have also performed for most of the major New Zealand choreographers, including Michael Parmenter and Mary-Jane O’Reilly.

While dancing with Taiao Dance Theatre from 1990-92, I was fortunate to learn and study mau rākau with Te Miringa Hohaia, from Parihaka.  Mau rākau is an ancient Maori martial art form used traditionally in battle.  More recently, it has been associated with ceremonial rites and upholding tribal tikanga (customs).

I graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1990 with a diploma in teaching and contemporary dance performance.  I am an Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and hold an Advanced Royal Academy of Dance certificate.  I have taught both abroad (in the countries listed above) and in New Zealand (at the New Zealand School of Dance, Toi Whakaari—New Zealand Drama School, the Wellington Performing Arts Centre and at Whitireia.)

Merenia Gray has also received commissions from:

• The Royal New Zealand Ballet - Time Turned to Stone 2002
• Capital Theatre Productions - Song and Dance 2002 Opera House, Wellington Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Footnote Dance Company - Poutokomanawa 1993; Rough Fusion 1997; Whiri Koka Whiri Tangata 2001
• The New Zealand Wearable Arts Awards 1999 Nelson
• Auckland Dance Company - Pounamu for WOMAD 1999 Auckland Town Hall

Download Curriciulum Vitae for Merenia Gray

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