Black Grace (Contemporary Dance)

Motivated to provide a different perspective and a fresh voice in the dance scene, Neil Ieremia founded his own company, Black Grace, in 1995, with 10 male dancers of Pacific, Māori and New Zealand heritage. Drawing from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural and generational barriers, Ieremia has changed the face of contemporary dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one of the most recognizable and iconic cultural brands. The work itself is highly physical, rich in the story-telling traditions of the South Pacific and expressed with raw finesse, unique beauty and power. Black Grace received a Herald Angel Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.