The Motuhake Series: baggage
For the third instalment of the The Motuhake Series, Justin Haiu (New Zealand Dance Company, Whiteface Crew, Lion King) and his team created Baggage. Following a sold out season at the Aotea Centre, Jandel J and the Funky Friends went on a new adventure which was told through storytelling, humour, and dance.
Baggage focused on the key competencies of Manakitanga, respect, empathy, kindness, and teamwork. As with most of our schools shows, it was also accompanied with a workshop prior which gave children the opportunity to become part of the show.
Baggage was toured around schools in the Auckland region in 2019.
“I came to the show today not truly knowing what I was going to see, and I have to say I cried. I cried because of the talent of those people. They gave a really clear message that aligns with all the things our kids so desperately need about how to relate to each other, about how to be kind to each other, to give people space, but to work together to solve problems. So it was a wonderful, wonderful show.”
“Wow. We have just witnessed our whole school having so much fun watching the production ‘Baggage’. We just want to say thank you so much for again teaching our kids about kindness, being respectful, and being supportive. Such an awesome message and we just wanted to say fa’afetai tele lava, thank you so much.”
“I thought that was the most spectacular show I have ever seen. I thought the messages were amazing, and that they were presented in the most beautiful and original way, and I thought that the kids picked up on it and thought it was just wonderful.”