Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras - September 23rd 2011 - Haka Punks & Te Tai Tonga

Date & Time: Friday, September 23 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location : Takutai Square, Cnr Gore & Tyler Sts, Britomart, Auckland CBD

The original New Zealand Māori cross-cultural gender-bender, Mika, has created a magical celebration of Auckland in all its glorious colour and diversity.

Aroha Mardi Gras is an exhilarating music, dance, art, fashion, drag, burlesque and multicultural performance showcase. Mika stirs up a 21st century cultural melting pot of tangata whenua and manuhiri from all shores into a spectacular two hour entertainment experience.

Outrageous, eye-opening and extremely entertaining, Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras combines the myriad of cultures that now call Aotearoa home -- Japanese Taiko drummers, Polynesian dancers, Bollywood performers, belly dancers, and show-stopping drag and transgender performers -- with traditional and techno-inspired Māori kapa haka crews.

This multicultural carnival will also feature popular soul and reggae singers, award-winning actors and TV personalities, a full Kim Crawford Creative Fusion fashion show from contemporary korowai designer Kiri Nathan, former All Blacks and Olympians, fresh and funky Mai FM Kā 400 flash-mobs, the mighty Te Tai Tonga kapa haka group, local 1st XV rugby teams, and a scrum pack of New Zealand's favourite celebrities.

Featured soloists:
Mika
Rena Owen
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Jay Tewake
Edward Ru
Erakah
Mahina Kaui
Leda Petit
Kiri Nathan

Performance groups:
Mai FM Kā 400 Crew
AUT Dance Company
Te Tai Tonga Kapa Haka
Te Ariki Vaine Polynesian Dance Team
Haere Mai Taiko Drummers
The Glamboyz
Haka Punks
Pounamu Diamonds
Pearlz of Meganesianz
Desi Shape Shifters
Te aMo
TamaSa
The Manu Dolls
Phoenix & Tais Belly Dancers
Otahuhu College 1st XV

Bring the whole whānau for an unforgettable and free evening out on the town! Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras is happening in Britomart's Takutai Square on Friday 23 September, with shows at 6pm and 8pm.

Both shows will be filmed to air on Māori Television during their Rugby World Cup schedule (refer to Māori TV publicity material for confirmed screening time).

Proud to be part of the REAL New Zealand Festival. Kotahitanga mā te Rerekētanga! Unity through difference!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mika
• Rena
• Owen
• Keisha
• Castle-Hughes
• Jay
• Tewake
• Edward
• Ru
• Erakah
• Mahina
• Kaui
• Leda
• Petit
• Kiri
• Nathan
• Mai
• FM
• Kā
• 400
• Crew
• AUT
• Dance
• Company
• Te
• Tai
• Tonga
• Kapa
• Haka
• Ariki
• Vaine
• Polynesian
• Team
• Haere
• Taiko
• Drummers
• The
• Glamboyz
• Punks
• Pounamu
• Diamonds
• Pearlz
• of
• Meganesianz
• Desi
• Shape
• Shifters
• aMo
• TamaSa
• Manu
• Dolls
• Phoenix
• Tais
• Belly
• Dancers
• Otahuhu
• College
• 1st
• XV