MOANA Showcase 2026
UNITEC & NZ School of Dance took to the stage of Mangere Arts Centre for their annual MOANA Showcase: a platform to illustrate the learnings of emerging Pacific choreographers and performers.
It very much was what one should expect from a school showcase, in that you do not know what you are walking in to watch.
The show certainly leant towards the more abstract side of dance. So for someone that is no dance connoisseur it may have been a bit of an odd, confusing and disjointed show. Inevitably spending the majority of the show in a state of confusion and attempting to analyse the movement to make sense of the story and meaning. Resulting in a difficultly to truly connect with the pieces. Perhaps a brief verbal introduction or written program with context and explanation behind each piece would have been beneficial to connecting with the dancers and understanding the dance.
If you were friends, family or fluent in the language of dance and can interpret the story of abstract pieces then it would have been a moment of pure celebration. If you were part of these groups or were seeking to find emerging pacific dancers or chorographers then this may be the perfect performance for you. It is important to commend all the creative work behind the scenes and of the performers nevertheless. Each dancer brought vibrant energy and passion to their performances and they certainly have potential for bright futures ahead.
