13 Jul 2015

From K' Road to Edinburgh festival

9:18 am on 13 July 2015

A group of Māori and Pasifika dancers will take to the international stage at the world's largest arts festival.

Okareka Dance Company's 'K'Road Strip - A Place to Stand' successfully toured New Zealand in 2013 (pictured).

Okareka Dance Company's 'K'Road Strip - A Place to Stand' successfully toured New Zealand in 2013 (pictured). Photo: SUPPLIED / Okareka Dance Company

Six dancers from the Auckland-based Okareka Dance Company will perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

Taane Mete, of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Korokī, is one of the show's artistic directors and dancers.

Mr Mete said the show, called "K' Road Strip - A Place to Stand" - took six years to create and features an all-gay male cast.

He said the show was a celebration of Karangahape Rd and its diversity and features a mixture of dance, kapa haka and drag.

"It is our take on what [we] believe are the strengths of Karangahape Rd; it's a celebration of the mixed, diverse culture," he said.

"There are Samoan communities, Māori communities, gay communities, the red light district, so this show really is culminating all of those things."

Mr Mete said he hoped the show would help put the dance company, and Aotearoa, on the international map.

"It's a great way to showcase New Zealand and Aotearoa and to engage with festival directors from around the world, in the hope that we will be picked up internationally to tour the show."

The show received rave reviews and 21 shows around the country sold out in 2013.

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