FIVE QUESTIONS
Tau Dance presents galaxy of genres, world premieres
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
| • | 'Mareka Me Venuse (Mars & Venus)'
A Tau Dance Theatre production 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday Hawai'i Theatre $8-$23 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com Featuring Peter Rockford Espiritu and Tau Dance Theatre, Sonny Ching and Halau Na Mamo 'O 'Pu'uanahulu, Cocoa Chandelier and Company, Sing Sing Bliss Chinese Dance Company, Andrea Torres, Makana, Kaumakaiwa "Lopaka" Kanaka'ole, Hala'i and the Pua Melia Trio |
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Considering his whirlwind schedule, meteoric pace and dazzling artistry, Espiritu and his Tau Dance Theatre glimmer in a galaxy of their own.
In a moment of respite, we asked Espiritu, a dynamo who dances, choreographs and directs, Five Questions:
Q. What does the "Mars & Venus" concept embrace?
A. We've been doing 'Men Dancing' for the past eight years — it's been our most successful community project — so we also started "Ladies Night Out" every other year, to balance men and women. We're combining 'em this year— the first act is all women, the second all men.
Q. Is there a common bottom line?
A. I think the diversity of the groups that I invited reflect Tau Dance's work, the connections. We're doing, for the first time, Andrea Torres' original "Hina" (goddess of the moon) number she originated in " 'Ulalena" (the Maui extravaganza); her spiritual connection to the moon reflects Tau's links to Hawaiian culture. Cocoa Chandelier will be part of a 21-dancer love story about a maiden and a prince, and who knows, he might be both.
Tau will have two world premieres — one in collaboration with Piilani Smith, using new music by Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, from their not-yet-released CD; and another chant piece composed in honor of my 40th birthday, in the genre of an opera with kind of a hip, vibe-y music with live chanting and showcasing hula with ballet and modern influences.
Q. Are you also dancing?
A. I'm dancing ... people will kill me if I don't. There's a new piece with Kaumaka'iwa Kanaka'ole singing, plus a solo with Makana singing.
Q. You've also been touring. Details?
A. I just got back from Japan, working with 51 dancers in a ballet company, and I go back in May to world-premiere a piece. They wanted a contemporary Hawaiian number, which I choreographed to music of Keali'i Reichel and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom. I'll be going on a West Coast tour, too, performing at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC-Davis and the Japanese American Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. This summer, we'll tour the East Coast.
Q. What's the key to your success?
A. I think I'm good at assembling bodies and people and genres together; that's my niche. You know, pull groups which normally don't work together and show the common ground.
Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.
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Mini reviews of stage productions by Advertiser theater critic Joseph Rozmiarek
"Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris": This cabaret-style performance will have you going home to look up and savor the lyrics. Brel's songs are packed with human drama and each is a story in itself. Repeats at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through April 11 at the Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, Kane'ohe. Tickets are $18 general, $14 seniors, military, students, HPU faculty and staff, $3 HPU students; discounts available Thursdays. 375-1282.
"Dis/Troy": It's the world premiere of a play for high school students that converts Homer's "The Iliad" into a blend of silliness and crunching fight scenes. The campy approach holds attention, but also skillfully reveals the anti-hero character of Achilles — all in under 60 minutes. The Honolulu Theatre for Youth production repeats at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Tenney Theatre. Tickets are $12 general, $6 youths (18 and younger) and seniors (60-plus). 839-9885.
