People from all over the island came together to observe the I Moving Lab’s production of Intercultural Movement Across the Islands on Thursday evening. The performance took place in the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and consisted of a mixture of dance, movement, film and music.
The performance was comprised of short dances and excerpts created by the group’s choreographers. There were seven dances, each telling a story through movement. The group’s works mainly focused on indigenous identity, solidarity and empowerment.
The show opened with a chant titled, “I Man Matao,” which was sung in the native language of Guahan, and was explained to be about honoring the ancestral spirits of navigation. Following this were four back to back dances, each exploring different indigenous stories and thoughts. Many of the dances contained a video aspect that played along as the dance was performed.
The performance also showcased original songs and rapping by ensemble member Dakot-ta Alcantara-Camacho. After three more dances, all choreographed by group members, the show was wrapped up with an artist talk and a final song.
The Artist Talk was a time for questions and feedback. People from the audience were encouraged to ask about the group and learn more about them. The group shared stories on how they met and formed as an ensemble, why they do what they do, and stories of gifts given to them through their travels. They encouraged sharing positivity and love with one another.
I Moving Lab: An Intercultural Dance Experience
The I Moving Lab is an intercultural and indigenous based contemporary movement and performance group. They were originally formed in New York by founder Jack Gray. The group travels all around the world to bring together cultural practitioners, community advocates and artists to present workshops, artist talks, community activations and nature visits. They have recently been traveling through the Hawaiian Islands to host artist talks, community service days and live performances. The group consists of five members, Gray, Alcantara-Camacho, Sammay Dizon, Toni Pasion, and Kea Kapahua. With each member having varying skills in dance, intercultural studies, choreography, video production and music.
Although the group has already done their Maui performance, there is another opportunity to meet the ensemble and work with them. On Friday, November 18, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.the I Moving Lab with be hosting a Movement Lab at the Omori Dance Studio located at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Admission is free but there is limited space available and this event is only open to ages 15 and over. To reserve a spot at this event please send an email to kahulu@mauiarts.org.
The Maui Arts and Cultural Center hosts events and shows like this one all throughout the year. They are a non-profit organization that has been serving Maui’s artistic needs for 20 years. To find more information on what events the Maui Arts and Cultural Center will be hosting in the future please visit mauiarts.org. For more information about I Moving Lab and their upcoming events please visit their website www.imovinglab.com, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/imovinglab/about/?ref=page_internal.
