Uganda to Aotearoa

Uganda to Aotearoa is a moving exhibition showcase of international and local artists that will ignite the space with electric dance, live music, spoken word, and a projected photographic dance installation. A collaboration of creative minds coming together for a common purpose.

Coming all the way from Kampala Uganda, Internationally renowned dancer Antonio Bukhar, an award winning African performer, choreographer, social entrepreneur and dance teacher. With an artistic practice that operates with a blend of styles, namely Hip-hop, contemporary, dancehall, breaking & Uganda traditional dances. Antonio uses dance as a tool to promote positive social change in disadvantaged communities within Uganda. He was awarded the Pina Bausch Fellowship 2017 at the University of Auckland, as well as the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance in 2019.

Antonio will share with us his works, both past and present and create a conversation about his current project "Dance 2020 Experience - For Better Livelihoods for Young Stars in the Pearl of Africa." A crew of dancers will be lead by Antonio Bukhar showcasing his cutting edge choreography. This performance is a culmination of 4 x dance workshops held at the New Zealand School of Dance leading up to this event. A handful of lucky students from these classes get to dance as Antonio's crew!

Wellington's very own Ras Judah and the Culture Embassy will connect and energize the evening. Ras Judah is a singer songwriter and lead front man of the Culture Embassy. His charisma, infectious warmth and smile and uniquely crafted song writing comes from his original homeland in Botswana, Africa.

The Culture Embassy is a Wellington based ten piece band with Pan African music and Roots Reggae beats with some jazz and folk elements with some kiwiana to add to the mix. The band is made up of musically and culturally diverse individuals, and represent and highlight the unlimited possibilities using multicultural unification through musical harmonization.

Kira Hundleby is a Singer/Songwriter, Creative Director and Event Producer based in Wellington, Aotearoa. Originally born in Auckland NZ, she has been based locally in New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and abroad. As a first time Mama, she will be sharing new creative works that are inspired by the journey of Motherhood and realization of the growing evolution of womanhood.

Having grown up with a cross cultural heritage, her music is a blend of cultural Melanesian roots, fused with elements of folk/soul, rock and contemporary world music. She has a passion for social justice, human rights and gender equality, highlighting multiculturalism and diversity within international projects she feels passionate about as well as having an innovative and global approach to arts and culture within Aotearoa.

Wyeth Chalmers has a background in Acting in film, Theatre, Stage, Comedy and Spoken Word. Originally from Otepoti Dunedin, his creative influences are many, his Mother a published Poet, and his Father a Visual Artist. Wyeth is also a Performance Poet and currently living in Poneke, Wellington.

Full of humour and depth but with a special type of charisma and personality, he will take the audience on a literary journey, from the sacred hikoi of Dame Whine Cooper to the wise wonderings of the Wizard of Christchurch. He is also the Co owner of Hundleby and Chalmers Productions and Co Producer of this partnership.

From the rhythmic heartbeat of Kampala, Uganda... to the windy waterfront of Wellington's coastline, we will take you on a creative journey that will uplift, enrich and inspire the heart and soul.