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:

• 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

Merenia is the official choreographer for her brother Tane Mahuta Gray's production Maui the Legend, staged at the St James Theatre, Wellington and Civic Theatre, Auckland in 2007.

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

International Performance

Her experience extends beyond New Zealand, having staged her work in Hong Kong, Spain, France, Denmark and the United States. During 1992 Merenia performed for Radical Dance Theatre Company Artgenossen, in Munich as well touring her her solo dance work, Ko Au-The Self, through Sydney, Munich, Seville, Paris and Copenhagen. While living and working in Copenhagen in 1995/96, she performed for renowned New York choreographers Doug Varone and David Dorfman. She has also performed for most of the major New Zealand choreographers, including Michael Parmenter, Mary-Jane O'Reilly, and she also spent four years dancing in Deirdre Tarrant's Footnote Dance Company.

While dancing with Taiao Dance Theatre from 1990-92, she was fortunate to learn and study mau rakau with Te Miringa Hohaia, from Parihaka. Mau rakau 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).

Merenia graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1990 with a diploma in teaching and contemporary dance performance.She is an Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and holds an Advanced Royal Academy of Dance certificate.She has 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.)

Download Curriciulum Vitae for Merenia Gray

Te Mana