By Andança Company with Ella Williams
As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the new work Gates to Memory a powerful multidisciplinary performance that weaves together movement, sound, and storytelling to embody the echoes of ancestral dreams and histories. Through the artistry of dance, music, photography, and light, the work conjures spaces where the past, present, and future collide—where memory is not just remembered, but felt, breathed, and lived anew.
Co-choreographed and performed by Ella Williams and Stela Dara, this deeply personal and evocative piece honours whakapapa, identity, and transformation. Ella, of Canadian, Trinidadian, and Pākehā NZ descent, uses dance as a vehicle for liberation, creating work that opens pathways for thought and change. Stela, a Brazilian-born artist, fuses her cultural heritage with her craft, forging spaces where collaboration and expression flourish. Together, they navigate the intersections of history and imagination, building worlds that honour their lineages while forging new futures.
The performance is further elevated by the contributions of a visionary creative team including Amio (Renati Waaka) a Māori photographer whose work explores whakapapa, fluidity, and identity in a contemporary, decolonising Aotearoa. Chilean lighting designer and light artist, Elekis Poblete Teirney, known for her striking, ephemeral designs that transform the stage into an immersive landscape of memory and possibility. Renowned author and conceptual music artist, Jeanelle Frontin, bringing depth and resonance through her sonic storytelling, creating an aural world that bridges time and space.
Gates to Memory invites audiences to witness the intimate act of remembering—of reclaiming lost stories and forging new ones through embodied performance. It is a call to honour those who came before, to hold space for those yet to come, and to move forward with the wisdom of the past woven into every step.
Join us in this world premiere and step through the gates where memory becomes movement, and history dances anew.
He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.
Ella Williams Co-Choreographer and Performer, born of Canadian, Trinidadian and Pakeha NZ descent. currently working in Te Whanganui a Tara, Aotearoa. She is interested in exploring different worlds through dance and using dance as a way to create space for thought and change through creating and performing as an act of liberation and a connection to ancestors and her history.
Stela Dara Co-Choreographer and Performer . Brazilian-born performer Stela fuses her cultural roots with her artistry. She aims to create safe spaces for collaboration and expression, reflecting her multicultural identity in her choreography.
Stela has recently created Show do Café, which has already toured to 4 cities in its first year of existence. Stela aims to become a multifaceted artist who can contribute to people’s well-being through art.
Amio Māori Photographer Renati Waaka also known as Amio is one of the most promising upcoming photographers in Te Whanganui-a-tara. Amio’s work explores themes of connection, whakapapa, fluidity, and identity as a young, queer, Māori person in a contemporary decolonising Aotearoa.
Elekis Poblete Teirney A lighting designer and light artist, Elekis Poblete Teirney is from Isla de Maipo, Chile. She has worked with many prestigious companies and artists in Aotearoa who have sought her out for her innovation, attention to detail and strong collaborative skills. She goes above and beyond in her collaborations designing ephemeral and striking light to elevate the work, as well as exploring her own questions about light and design.
Jeanelle Frontin A renowned author, Jeanelle Frontin is a who also shares a love for creating conceptual music with her husband through their singing, songwriting and production duo, Dechode Mode. Their first EP, The Triquetra of Love, was reviewed and featured in Caribbean Beat (March/ April 2022), the Caribbean Airlines inflight magazine, and all their songs gained recognition across all streaming platforms.
ANDANÇA is a contemporary dance company with influences from different movement styles. Founded by Stela Dara Resende Albuquerque. Stela’s goal for the company is to bring warmth and artists from the diaspora to the stages of the world. Her Brazilian roots have a deep influence on her work
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
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