sunameke productions
About
People
Reviews
Watch
Contact
chauka calling
About
"The water used to be 15 metres from Chachu's door, now it's only 4 metres away" The sea at Mata'an (the eye of the water) Beach in Loniu, Manus Islands (PNG) is rising.Sunameke Productions debuted "Chauka Calling" at the 2009 Miss South Pacific Pageant in Suva, Fiji. The performance was televised across the Pacific to an audience of 6 million people. "Chauka Calling" was created to raise awareness of climate change and it's effects in Oceania. Using traditional stories, dances and songs from across Oceania in a contemporary context; Sunameke illustrated the links between pacific islanders and the sea and highlighted the future adversity that awaits them in the form of climate change.The legend of "Leveyam" tells the story of a young man and his new wife, whom the Chauka, the gaurdian bird of the village discovers is a masalai or spirit. The Chauka bird warns the villagers of the imminent danger Leveyam's wife represents, and in response the villagers take to their canoes and leave their village behind to start new lives. "Leveyam" was the inspiration for "Chauka Calling" as the Chauka warned the villagers of a threat, Sunameke uses the symbol of the Chauka to warn the world of the danger our Pacific Islands are now facing.Heed the call of the Chauka and plan and act for the future.Sunameke Productions aim to create work that reflects our cultural diversity within a contemporary context with paticular emphasis on the experience of the "Hapakasi". Our motto is "From old to new old, that's the way we go forward", embracing our cultural dances and giving them a new purpose away from their original contexts through our performance practice.Director: Julia GrayPerformers: Julia Gray, Yolanda Gray, Katrina Sonter and Samantha SonterPoetry: "Fear of an Estuary" by Teresia TeaiwaPhotos: Joseph Amputch and Lionel Foi - Graffiti Media, Suva, FijiFootage: Julia GrayMusic: Leveyam / Auerem - Sunameke ProductionsManus Rhythms- Drum Drum Olsem Kopi- Julia Gray and James MangohigMarch Up- James MangohigGeneaology:Manus Dances (PNG) taught by Paluai SuksukAuerem (Western Province, PNG) taught by Rodney Kove at University of Papua New GuineaLeveyam (Manus Islands, PNG) taught by Wendy Sonter Kiribati movement from dance "Ena retia" taught by Margie MullerOther Movement influences from: Sepik, West New Britain, East New Britain, New Ireland and Mekeo (Papua New Guniea), Philippines, Samoa and Tahiti.Costumes: Manus dress: The Sonter familyTatau design:Bird design for women / fertility design / Centipede design for warriors from Mekeo - Elizabeth Magaiva AukiContemporary Manus ankle and knee design based on Manus dress - Katrina Sonter
People
Performed by: Two sets of sisters!Julia Gray (Mekeo Australia), Director Sunameke Productions.Yola Gray (Mekeo Australia), dancing, singing and laughing with passion and power her Island styles are unmistakable. Kat Sonter (Manus, Australia), her graphic design and powerhouse vocals combine to project a deep and striking styleSam Sonter (Manus, Australia), an energy of sweet grace she embodies Melanesian beauty with a backbone of steel.Sound: James Mangohig (Kahibaloo / Sietta) / DrumDrum / Teresia Teaiwa / SunamekeDirector: Julia Mageau GrayBorn of Papua New Guinea/Australian heritage and raised in both Australia and Papua New Guinea I have been exposed all of my life to the impact of two very separate and distinctive cultures. After graduating with a BA in Dance(Hons) from Adelaide University, I have spent my professional life as a freelance dancer and choreographer in finding ways to express my Papua New Guinea heritage. I have been privileged to work in numerous projects in collaborative and directing capacities. Career highlights have been working with Tracks Dance Theatre, DrumDrum, Sunameke and touring the Pacific Islands courtesy of the Cultural Linguistics Award from the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs.
shapeimage_8-4.png
11531_186720618284_82891718284_3074603_240808_n.jpg
4157343549_f68f55604a_o.jpg
4158105768_53ec3f94d4_o.jpg
Reviews
Who Born You
Heed the call of the Chauka
HEED THE CALL OF THE CHAUKASunamekeDirector: Julia GrayPresented by Sunameke (from Darwin)at Western Springs Lakeside, Auckland13 Mar 2010Reviewed by Margi Martin, 15 Mar 2010Aucklands popular Pasifika Festival day arrives Saturday 13 March 2010, bringing togetherthousands for a great day out at Western Springs. The non-stop entertainment is across 12 stages,but focused on the two main stages, which are the Emerging Stage, and the Air New ZealandInternational Stage.The first group on the international stage is Sunameke, a unique Pacific Island dance companybased in Darwin and directed by PNG Hapakasi (half-cast) Julia Gray. Sunamake debuted todayspiece, Chauka Calling, at the 2009 Miss Pacific Pageant in Suva, Fiji.Chauka Calling was created to raise awareness of climate change and its effects in Oceania. Chaukawas the guardian bird of the village in the legend Leveyam and warned the villagers of a threat. ThePacifika audience is reminded to heed the call of the Chauka.Using traditional stories, dances and songs from across Oceania in a contemporary context;Sunameke illustrates the links between Pacific Islanders and the sea and highlights the futureadversity that awaits them in the form of climate change.Being the first group on the Pasifika Festival international stage they have to draw a crowd tothemselves. It is Saturday morning at 10.10am but there are already quite a lot of people at thefestival. Four dancers take places on stage and then the sound track begins with layered andrepeating poetry drawing us to think and try to understand. About a hundred people gather to watch.The layered grass skirts from Thursday nights opening concert are gone and a more contemporarylook is achieved in black strapless tops and fitted skirts. But the beautiful adornments are there inshell necklaces and anklets, yellow hair flowers and high armbands.They are like perching birds, rising and crouching, unfolding and turning to the wind. Wide-openarms in second position, with chests raised and faces upward, their movements blend Melanesiancustom dance with modern vocabularies. Flowing from strong open positions to folding and twisting,fists presenting and hands softening, they move through the voices of poetry and then song that arerecorded in haunting echoes, filling the space. Knees are lifted and flexed feet presented, as armspaddle, heads turn to navigate and focused faces remain unsmiling.A feeling of caution floats across the audience as Leviyan is sung in haunting minor unison, inrepetition as the sound of water laps the soundtrack. Harmonies intensify then recede to unisonagain, emulating the tidal water and reminding us that the sea at Mataan beach in Loniu, ManusIslands (PNG) is rising. Dancers now change configuration with rhythmic stepping and running inplace, lifting the energy around the stage.Changing again, blue flags are rested front stage by two crouching dancers, while the other twocontinue to move rhythmically. Percussive tracks take over with intense drumming and rain-stick likesoftness taking there turns. The front dancers begin to raise the flags, swooping, hiding andrevealing the two moving dancers. It is a beautiful spectacle.The final section changes to fast slit drums: a piece called March Up. The smiling breaks out asthey move quickly back and forth across the stage, stepping, hopping and moving in and aroundeach other in lines. It is joyous and entertaining; the kind of piece that gets everyone to their feet tojoin in if they are given half a chance.Sunameke Productions aim to create work that reflects cultural diversity within a contemporarycontext and with particular emphasis on the experience of the Hapakasi the half-cast PacificIslanders experiences. Their website reveals: Our motto is From old to new, thats the way we goforward, embracing our cultural dances and giving them a new purpose away from their originalcontexts through our performance practice.
4158105768_53ec3f94d4_o.jpg
4157343549_f68f55604a_o.jpg
Watch
Footage
Gallery
Footage
Chauka Calling
Gallery
go to flickr gallery
Contact
|
contactsunameke_me.com
Intro
sunameke
Darwinspasifika
Who Born You
Dear Aunty
