SME Partner

Corey Baker, Corey Baker Dance

PhD Student

Katherine Fry, Queen Mary, University of London

Supervisor

Nicholas Ridout, Queen Mary University of London 

Project Name’s 

Corey Baker Dance – Kapa Haka Tale, Rugby and Dance

Project Description

Corey Baker Dance’s (CBD) Kapa Haka Tale production brings together the myth and legend of Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous culture. The visually stimulating and powerful dance performance teaches and inspires new audiences about the richness of Maori culture and the core of New Zealand’s identity. Katherine’s residency at CBD involved further research into Maori art and Culture leading to the creation of a full-length work, creating a new dance language and portraying Maori myth and legend as potential narrative, the work premiered at Birmingham International Dance Festival 2014.

Katherine also led on Corey Baker’s Rugby and Dance training program which came through the success and interest of ‘Kapa Haka Tale’ – collaborating with local rugby clubs to research the benefits of dance training to rugby players and to understand this link to develop a training programme for the Rugby Union and independent players. The rugby and dance training program is not only substantially beneficial to professional rugby players and dancers, it also serves the general public and can be implemented in schools. By finding common ground between sports and dance Corey Baker Dance has developed a new understanding and audiences for both. The work strongly promotes a crossover between sports and dance audiences, developing new audiences and understanding and interest in Maori culture and the arts.