Body Festival ’08 opens in Christchurch

23 September 2008
Two Christchurch mixed-ability groups, Jolt Youth and A Different Light, feature in the 16-day programme of The Body Festival ’08, on in Christchurch from 26 September until 12 October.

Jolt Youth, made up of young people with and without disabilities, is performing an original adaptation of Margaret Mahy’s picture book, The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate (9 to 12 October). A Different Light, which devises and performs theatre using the skills of people with and without disabilities, is presenting Frankenstein’s Children or The New Eugenics (9 to 12 October).

Festival Director Adam Haywood says that Jolt and A Different Light have been involved in The Body Festival since its early days and are an intrinsic part of what makes the festival a success.

Critical acclaim

“We’ve always sought to be a festival that is owned by the community and so it’s important to include all levels and all disciplines,” Adam says. “Last year’s shows by Jolt and A Different Light nearly sold out and received critical acclaim by both the media and public.

“Christchurch has a rich mixed-ability artistic landscape and these two groups are essential to our continued growth and development as one of New Zealand’s leading dance events.”

Over the 16 days of the festival, there are dance performances, films, demonstrations, master classes, installations and workshops.

There are a huge number of workshops being held throughout the festival. Many of them are free, koha or gold coin donation. For instance, workshops over the first weekend include belly dance, salsa, kapa haka, hip hop, break dance, Bharata Natyam, charleston and ceroc.

Commitment to inclusion

Marianne Taylor, Executive Director of Arts Access Aotearoa, applauds the community focus of The Body Festival and its commitment to inclusion.

“The public response to performances by Jolt and A Different Light shows there is an audience for work by mixed-ability groups,” she says. “It’s great that the festival is listening to what people want, as well as providing artistic opportunities for performers.”

The festival kicks off on Friday 26 September in Cathedral Square with  Wellington’s lycra-clad dance troupe the Red Hot Bitches, attempting to create a new world record and the largest synchronised dance routine the world has ever seen.