In Tōrua, nine dancers invite their audience to explore the varied spaces of Tāmaki Makaurau, listening to two original compositions from New Zealand musicians Eden Mulholland and Anna Edgington.
The name suggests the weaving of two energies reflected in the performers’ duets, says director Malia Johnston of Movement of the Human. “[The dancers] are always in a duet with the environment or with the relationship with the audience,” she said after Saturday’s show that started at Karanga-a-Hape station before migrating through the streets to the finale in Myers Park.
Tōrua has delighted audiences across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia and is presented as part of the Tempo Dance Festival this week in central Auckland. The piece features distinct vignettes with duets, solos and group dances using the environment as backdrops and props. Johnston says the natural environment challenges the perception of conditioned viewing, empowering audiences to watch however they want, wherever they want.
![Director Malia Johnston says: “[The dancers] are always in a duet with the environment or with the relationship with the audience.” Photo / Alex Robertson](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/54AN4V24DVFIVL7HDZAGSJ2CWQ.jpg?auth=86255fde4167387ced8788bb0c15a64087658e4af34d243f1b68aa728fe86edb&width=1440&height=939&quality=70&smart=true)
“Autonomy with your experience as an audience is something we’re interested in with Movement of the Human and using dance as a vehicle for energy exchange,” she said. “There’s something really delightful about performing in public spaces. The dancers really enjoy it: they have fun, they have autonomy with the material, and their solos belong to them.”
Tōrua is free as part of Tempo Dance Festival. Tickets from www.aucklandlive.co.nz.