16 Nov 2015
Aotearoa has a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts host Guåhans (aka Guam) Taotao Håya culture in Auckland this week.
Transformance Lab presents:
GUPOT SUMONGSONG
by Dåkot-ta Alcantara-Camacho (Guåhan) and Jack Gray (NZ)
A unique celebration of Taotao Håya culture is on the menu at Urbanesia Contemporary Pasifika Festival ‘15, serving up a platter of sensory surprises from the Marianas Islands in the North-West Pacific Ocean.
With stories of being the first to settle the Pacific, Taotao Håya are now stretched out across an archipelago of 15 islands (including the Northern Marianas Islands and Guåhan, also known as Guam).
Experience their cuisine, song, chants and dances for the first time, as Mangere Arts Centre hosts Gupot Sumongsong, a customary celebration and public gathering on Sunday November 22, 12-4PM.
Facilitated by Jack Gray from Atamira Dance Company and Dåkot-ta Alcantara-Camacho, a hip hop poet, artist and activist from Guåhan, they explain: “Gupot means gathering, and Sumongsong is actually our word for November, and also literally means - to become a village”.
Held outdoors, Gupot Sumongsong will come alive with the smells of fresh kelaguen and red rice, a speciality dish. Families will be entertained with interactive installations and activities, sharing traditional song, dance and chant with everyone.
Starting on Monday 16 until Friday 20 November, free daily workshops will also be offered at Mangere Arts Centre, in preparation for the Sunday community event.
TRANSFORMANCE LAB WORKSHOPS at
Mangere Arts Centre, Corner of Baden Drive and Orly Avenue, Auckland
Dates: Monday November 16 - Friday November 20, 11AM – 3PM
FREE
Enquiries to: jgrayjnr@gmail.com
GUPOT SUMONGSONG at
Mangere Arts Centre, Corner of Baden Drive and Orly Avenue, Auckland
Date: Sunday November 22, 12 – 4PM
Tickets: Event is FREE (Food, crafts and stalls on sale)
Further details
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jack Gray
+64 21 338 477 | jgrayjnr@gmail.com
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