creative development by VICTORIA HUNT
in New Zealand 8 June - 20 July
New York City 13 August 2008
and Performance Space @ CarriageWorks in September 2008.

Research & development
Stage One – research Performance Space, Carriageworks October 2007
Stage Two – creative development Sydney and Aotearoa June-July 2008
Stage Three – performance New York City August 2008
Stage Four – public discussion Performance Space, Sydney September 2008
Stage Five – Showing, Sydney 2009

Copper Promises is a unique cultural encounter that implicates the audience in a protest against injustice and acts of historical violence. The work is shaped by contemporary Indigenous politics and the values and institutions of Maori culture.

Australian born Te Arawa Maori Victoria Hunt is choreographing a unique cultural encounter that implicates the audience in a ‘pilgrimage of protest’ against injustice and acts of historical violence. Copper Promises is currently undergoing its second stage development in Sydney. Hunt is working with artists Barbara Campbell, Roses Tikitiki Hunt, Keren Ruki and Sarah Waterson. This skilled team of artists are utilising movement, storytelling and colonial artefacts (specifically Hinemihi, the ancestral meeting house sold to a British noble in 1892) to develop the performance. The work is shaped by contemporary Indigenous politics and the values and institutions of Maori culture.

New Zealand 8 June - 20 July 2008
Conceptual & choreographic research at Te Wairoa, Rotorua will include a 'Dance Recital 1 to Te Arawa communities, principally Touhourangi sub-tribe who are connected through genealogy to Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito. Further conceptual & choreographic research will be at The Shed, Auckland, 3rd to 20th July whill will culminate in a 'Dance Recital 2 to an Auckland based artist.

Copper Promises New York City 13 August 2008
Public performance in response to Hinemihi's carvings stored in private art collection.

Copper Promises Sydney 1-7 September 2008
public discussion presenting research and development process as part of Performance-Space Festival for Live Art