Ethnic groups in exchange

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 20

Ethnic groups in exchange

Four stages of European folk dancers will share the stage with three New Zealand ethnic groups in a cultural exchange as a special preview to the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. Canterini Peloritani of Sicily, Stadt Haag from Austria, Weiblinger Viergesang from the Federal Republic of Germany and Masala Antica of Italy will share the stage of the Michael Fowler Centre with Wellington’s Ngati Poneke, Ei Tiare and local Indian performers in a special performance organised by the International Organisation of Folk Art for the Festival.

Masala Antica has performed at international festivals throughout Europe and Includes opera singers as well as costumed folk singers and

dancers. Canterini Peloritani has toured widely in North and South America as well as Europe and specialises in telling stories of Sicilia in song and dance. Stadt Haag will be performing for the first time outside Europe, where it is famous for its presentation of the song and dance traditions of Lower Austria, while the Germans are known for their originality and the excitement of their performance.

Formed in 1937, Ngati Poneke is Wellington’s most active Maori cultural group and as the tangata whenua will host the visitors at Pipitea Marae. Ei Tiare is a group of young Polynesians who perform traditional dances of Rarotonga, Samoa and Hawaii, while Wellington’s Indian community will present music and dance from their homeland.