Aotearoa
Love & Lan{d}guage- A fundraiser evening of community art, music and poetry
When:Saturday Jan 16th 6:30pm- 8:30pm Where: Bellamys Gallery, 495 Portobello Rd, Macandrew Bay, Dunedin New Zealand
Donation: $5.00
You are invited to attend the arts exhibition, poetry and music fundraiser at the Bellamys Gallery in Macandrew Bay.
Come gain some insight on the behind the scenes of Dunedins very own 2015 recipient of the Caroline Plummer community dance fellowship. Sharing her paintings, music and poetry that captures her journey from Africa, to the Americas landing in Dunedin. This event includes various collaborations including Singer song writer Kira Hundelby, Bongo Lion, King Leo’s very own Stevie Rice, Wyeth Chalmers and more. The funds raised for the art sales will support Uzo’s journey to continue to research the effects of community music and dance on wellbeing.
Come prepared to make art and engage in co creation by the community.
For more information please contact Uzo at nwankpa@gmail.com
Nga Maia ki Tamaki Makaurau
NAU MAI HAERE MAI KI TE HUI A NGA MAIA KI TAMAKI MAKAURAU
KAUPAPA FOR OUR NEXT HUI
WHERE: NZCOM Auckland Region Resource Centre,
Yarnton House, 14 Erson Ave, Royal Oak, Auckland
WHEN: Wednesday 9th December 2015, 1800 – 2130
1800 – 1930
Committee meeting and regional business hui
Nga Maia ki Tamaki Makaurau members welcome
1930 – 2130
Regional hui and guest speaker presentation
All midwives, students and whānau welcome
Christmas Hui – Highlights of 2015, looking forward to 2016 and special end of year Guest Speaker
UZO NWANKPA
MSN-PH, BSN, RN and 2015 Caroline Plummer Fellow
“The Uzo Method for Therapeutic Movement, Song and Dance”
Please bring a plate of kai to share
Enquiries to
Megan Tahere: 027 3669358 or Kaniwa Kupenga: 021 02891937
African Inspired Music and Dance Workshop/Performance in Auckland NZ
You are Invited
Friday Dec 4th 2015 7:30pm
You are invited to an interactive performance of music, dance and stories featuring Uzo Nwankpa the founder of The Uzo Method of therapeutic movement song and dance. With combination of live Drumtalk and vibrant dance with the Freedance crew, an evening of delightful energy. We will serve light refreshments. We will serve big love. It’s only 15/20 on the door. See you there.
Facebook Invitation
Workshop
Sunday Dec 6th 2015 2pm
This 2 hour movement and percussion workshop provides the opportunity to experience the healing power of the ancient African rhythms with a unique style of guided facilitation using ritual practices, songs and dances from Nigeria, West Africa and beyond. Participants will bring awareness to the integration of the mind, body and spirit which we all need to stay connected The crippling fear that prevents the natural state of the dancing body will be explored with ease allowing a gentle progression of the dance movements with the use of the vibrations of the drums. Come and experience self transformation facilitated by Uzo Nwankpa, a global figure who is merging ancient knowledge with innovation in collaboration with Drumtalk.
For booking call Jimmy Dale at 846 9663 or 021 123 2037
$20 when you book in advance by Nov 28th. $30 at the door. http://www.drumtalk.co.nz
Facebook Invitation
I am Here, We are Here- A Community performance by the 2015 Caroline Plummer Fellow
I am Here, We are Here – A performance by the 2015 Caroline Plummer Community Dance Fellow Uzo Nwankpa and the Dunedin community members. Directed by Jessica Paipeta Latton.
When: Wed 25 Nov 2015, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Where: Allen Hall Theatre, 90 Union Street East, Dunedin
Tickets : http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/i-am-here-we-are-here/dunedin
Bringing African music and dance as mental, spiritual and physical medicine for wellbeing, Uzo Nwankpa works with community members to tackle the grief of postnatal isolation, depression and anxiety due to hormone changes and lack of support. With live music, text and choreography, I am Here, We are Here, is a tribal celebration of the power of motherhood, sisterhood, dance and community. Limited seating available. RSVP immediately by reserving a free ticket http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/i-am-here-we-are-here/dunedin
This is a part of the Moving Communities Conference on 25-28 November 2015 hosted by the School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. For more information about the conference, visit www.otago.ac.nz/moving-communities/index.html
Community Theatre and Dance -Open Cast Workshops and Performance Dunedin
Workshop Dates and Times starting 14 Oct 2015
Wednesdays at 5:30pm -7pm & or Fridays at Noon -1:30pm
2 Sundays before the show
University of Otago School of Dance Dunedin,New Zealand
665 Cumberland Dance Studio
RSVP by Oct 13th 2015. For more information, contact
Jessica Latton akeake@actrix.co.nz or Uzo Nwankpa nwankpa@gmail.com
TV News coverage on Uzo’s work in New Zealand
Weekly community Afrobeats dance class in Dunedin New Zealand- Promo by Zoobe bunny
African inspired healing through live drumming and dance Auckland, New Zealand
Come and experience self transformation facilitated by Uzo Nwankpa, a global figure who is merging ancient knowledge with innovation in collaboration with Jimmy Dale from Drumtalk.
For booking call Jimmy Dale at 846 9663 or 012 123 2037
$20 when you book in advance by June 21st. $30 at the door. www.drumtalk.co.nz
Reflections and gratitude- The journey of the 2015 Caroline Plummer Dance Fellow

I am finally here in Aotearoa!!!!!
I am ecstatic about this moment. I remember when I was informed about this fellowship and I thought to myself ” This is perfect for me and I must go for it” and then the self doubt began. Am I good enough? What about my full time job? What about my living arrangements? Would they care for what an African woman living in the U.S has to say? Would they care that I am not a trained classical dancer? Would they care that I am not a stick figured dancer? What if they don’t understand my accent? Are there black people there? (this was before I found out the meaning of black in Aotearoa is different from where I live). I pushed through all the doubts and moved forward with the application. The application process was much simpler than I had expected. I had to send in a proposal about what I planned on doing through a paper and an unedited video. I had so much anxiety around making the video. I looked through youtube and could not find any previous winners of the fellowship posted. I had one week left to go before the deadline and no video. A friend suggested the interview style I used which made it less nerve racking and it worked. I had sent in numerous proposals which all got rejected so why would this time be different? sent it in with crossed fingers hoping they wouldn’t judge all the background noise and my hair (its a black girl thing to be worried about the perception of the hair). It was less than perfect but because of the timeline, I sent it in anyway. I prayed that it would be selected. I envisioned myself jumping up and down from hearing the good news. Once it was submitted, the anxiety dissipated and all I had control over was my mantras, visualizations and positive thoughts.