The performance is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 28, at 6:30 pm at Te Whare o Rukutia, as part of the group’s South Island tour.
During their time in Dunedin, the Jolt dancers will also conduct inclusive workshops with GASP Dance, the city’s inclusive dance company, and with dance students from the University of Otago.
According to Lyn Cotton, Jolt’s artistic director and the director of Whakapapa, the show narrates the stories of six dancers with intellectual disabilities, delving into themes of identity, culture, and ancestral connections through dance, text, and film.
Each segment, co-created by the dancers, presents a deeply personal viewpoint.
The featured dancers include Joel Forman (Ngāi Tahu), Jokani Coe (Cook Islands/Samoa), Robert Sopoaga (Samoa), Jono Bennett (Fijian Indian), Jacob Levington (Pākehā), and Lachlan Oakes (Pākehā).
Cotton highlighted that the narratives celebrate individuality and transcend disability labels, offering a powerful vision of belonging and cultural pride.
The show holds particular significance for dancer Joel Forman (Ngāi Tahu) as it depicts his journey of reconnection to his marae in Moeraki following his adoption into a Christchurch-based whānau as an infant.
Forman’s visit to his marae in 2023, as part of his creative process for Whakapapa, was a profound experience, with Forman expressing that it “feels like I’m home.”
As part of the performance, Forman also shares the story of his grandmother, Hana Kai Kai.
Cotton expressed the group’s enthusiasm for taking Whakapapa on tour across the South Island.
“This show is very meaningful to us. It has been co-created with our dancers and embodies their stories, voices, and artistry,” she said.
“We observe that people often judge others by their disabilities, so we aimed to create a show that narrates individual stories.
“It is a true reflection of Jolt’s essence — rooted in individuality, creativity, and connection.”
For more information, visit www.joltdance.co.nz — Allied Media
