Lemi Ponifasio/MAU: Tempest: Without a Body April 2, 2011

REDCAT takes over the historic Million Dollar Theater on Broadway for this U.S. premiere by renowned New Zealand director and choreographer Lemi Ponifasio. From its ominous beginning to its shattered conclusion, Tempest: Without a Body is a ferocious and awe-inspiring reflection on personal liberty and our current world. Created by Ponifasio for his company MAU, this visually stunning work entwines formally precise dancing with elements of theater, ritual, and social activism. At the center of this Shakespearean-inflected work is Tame Iti, a Māori activist, who emerges from the midst of an hypnotic vision of heaven and hell to unleash a passionate address on the escalation of state powers and use of unlawful detention. Born in Samoa, where he is a designated High Priest, Ponifasio is a fearless creative force whose distinctive visionary works have been performed at prestigious festivals and venues throughout the world.