Lies, Damn Lies, and Mathematics

1950s pulp erotica, dominoes, and the way people operate in layers of truth are the starting points for the physical movement in White Lie at Te Whaea Theatre from Tuesday 27 March to Sunday 1 April.

White Lie is physical dance theatre devised and performed by second year acting students at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School with assistance from performance design, entertainment technology, and performing arts management students. White Lie is choreographed and directed by freelance dancer, choreographer, and tutor Megan Adams.

Megan Adams graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1995 and has performed in the works of some of NZ�s best known choreographers including Ann Dewey, Sean Curham and Lisa Densem.

�One of my main interests in devising this show is looking at series, loops, formations and patterns,� said Megan. �I�m a maths geek � I did calculus by correspondence while I was at the School of Dance � so I�m basing a lot of the patterns of this show on domino sequences, where the dancers act as the spots on the dominos.�

�The music is being specially composed for White Lie by Lucien Johnson,� said Megan. �Lucien plays tenor sax, flute and organ. He�s a composer and improvisational musician and working with him is fabulous, because together we�re really looking at complex rhythm patterns that are moving people out of that NZ addiction to the traditional four-four time.�

Megan was the rehearsal director for Shona McCullagh's short film Break (2004) and worked with Douglas Wright as rehearsal director on Black Milk in 2006. Her most recent choreographic work was Rose Parade (2004), which, continuing the mathematical theme, was based on palindromes.

Melanie Firbank is a second year acting student but has spent most of her life as a dancer, in fact she was a student at the New Zealand School of Dance for a year before deciding she preferred acting.

�We spend lots of time exercising our bodies at Toi Whakaari,� said Melanie. �But dancing again is brilliant, especially because the emphasis on performance and emotion are so different coming from an actor�s perspective.�

Barnaby Fredric comes as a complete contrast to Melanie�s dance experience � he�d never had a dance lesson in his life before coming to Toi Whakaari.

�I actually got the �Un-co White Boy� award last year,� said Barnaby. �It�s a tongue in cheek recognition for the guy with the least co-ordination and dance ability in the class. As the recipient I was a bit worried about keeping up with the pace, but what we are doing is in no way your typical dance performance so that levels the playing field a bit.�

-ends-

What:   White Lie by Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School students
When:   7.30pm, Tuesday 27 March � Sunday 1 April
Where:  Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road
Cost:   $10 / $5
Book:   04 381 9253 (automated line)

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Ceridwyn Roberts
Marketing & Fundraising Manager
Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, containing:
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and New Zealand School of Dance
PO Box 7146
Wellington 6242
P: 04 381 9215
F: 04 389 4996
W: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz

Coming to Toi Whakaari soon...
White Lie (27 March - 1 April) - Physical dance theatre devised by 2nd year actors and techs with choreographer Megan Adams.
American Comedy Season (14 - 23 June) � featuring Christopher Durang�s Betty�s Summer Vacation & A History of the American Film.
Go Solo (6 � 19 August) - 22 new NZ compositions showcasing students' passion and curiosity.
Twelfth Night (22 August - 1 September) - Shakespeare�s classic comedy of mistaken identity.
Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches (29 September - 6 October) - Tony Kushner�s masterpiece of freedom, sex, religion and politics in the 20th Century.
Toi Cabaret (9 - 14 October) - A light and delicious evening of fun.
Classic Cuts (18 - 20 October) - Studio showing of scenes from Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
Arcadia (20-28 October) - Tom Stoppard's comedy of mathematics and love in two time periods.

Check out www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz for more information.