The MauForum annual festival starts this week and features avant-garde and traditional arts, performances, ceremony, forums, food and workshops.

The two-week intimate festival is directed by Lemi Ponifasio and hosted by his performance company MAU at the Corban Estate in Henderson, Waitakere City.

"It's a coming together of leading artists working on the edge of their arts practices, and leaders from the heart of their communities. It emphasises the relationship of artists to communities," says Lemi Ponifasio.The MauForum annual festival starts this week and features avant-garde and traditional arts, performances, ceremony, forums, food and workshops.

The two-week intimate festival is directed by Lemi Ponifasio and hosted by his performance company MAU at the Corban Estate in Henderson, Waitakere City.

"It's a coming together of leading artists working on the edge of their arts practices, and leaders from the heart of their communities. It emphasises the relationship of artists to communities," says Lemi Ponifasio."It's great for the brain, imagination and the stomach."

This year's festival will open with the MAU preview of Tempest II by Lemi Ponifasio before its world premiere in Brussels in May at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts and its European tour. Tempest II further examines themes and issues explored in last year's much acclaimed Tempest. It again features Tame Iti and Ahmed Zaoui, with large-scale photographic portraits of Tuhoe women by Marti Friedlander.

Invited international artists are headlined by the world-renowned dancer master Martinus Miroto who has created more than 40 contemporary works and performed throughout Europe, Asia, USA and Australia. He has also collaborated with such artists as Peter Sellars, Ong Keng Sen, Yin Mei and Joss Hansen.

One of the most unusual aspects of the festival is the program School Of Turbulence, a two-night event where performance artists challenge themselves by presenting their works to live audience's critique and discussions. Artists include Michael Tuffery, Anton Carter, Alexa Wilson, Russel Walder, Karlo Mila, Sean Curham, Mark Harvey, Kristian Larsen, Serie Barford and more.

Tuhoe Self Determination leads the Symposium Series - with key address by Tamati Kruger. Other festival activities this year include; The Pacific Thought Symposium with elders and Pacific academic community, Opus Dei II, a once-only outdoor performance created by Lemi Ponifasio with community participants, and performances by Interacting Theatre.

There is also a program of short films and documentary by Sima Urale, Makerita Urale and Annie Goldson and the Pig Dinner, a fun evening of food and intellectual debates with guest speaker Mark Jackson.

MAUFORUM closes on 15 March with TUTAU, an evening of Pacific ritual, oratory and performances by invited Pacific artists including the unique dance forms of the Tekeang-Ni-Kiribati Association from Kiribati and Kakamora Kulture, the much celebrated stomping Pan Pipe music group from the Solomon Islands.

When: March 6-15
Where: Corban Estate, Henderson, Waitakere City
Website: Mau

04/03/08