Lift Off!

Lift Off! is a double-bill of "Special, clever, charming and mesmeric" performances from exciting artists emerging onto the Capital's performing arts scene. 

The Butterfly Effect – by Emma Taylor, Every movement ripples outward, altering the course of something greater. Through a series of interconnected pieces, The Butterfly Effect works to explore how dancers and audiences can unknowingly influence the world around them. This original contemporary dance work takes viewers on a journey through cause and effect, revealing the profound impact of every decision, no matter how small. 

The Leftovers – by Maya Gatling, The Leftovers is a moving, educational performance inspired by the experiences of African Americans in 1800s New Orleans. Follow the lives of Betty, a mammy nurse in a plantation household, and Alonzo, an aspiring musician from Massachusetts. Through their stories, audiences gain insight into the resilience, ambitions and struggles of lives often overlooked by history.

Emma Taylor and Maya Gatling have recently graduated from Whitireia both with a Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts). Lift Off! is an extension of their final pieces from study, extended for a new audience. 

We're raising money to be able to pay our cast and production team as a way of thanking them for all their hard work. 

The Butterfly Effect was inspired by a review of another contemporary dance work in the 2023 Fringe Festival. 'Togetherness' became a jumping off point and the idea was born. With a cast of 14 dancers, audiences are encouraged to consider how minute decisions could change the trajectory of their lives without them ever knowing what could have been. 

The Leftovers is an educational performance based on the lives of African Americans in the 1800s, New Orleans. It was created through listening to classic gospel songs and watching historical films. The history of this time is often brushed aside in the school curriculum, so Maya created “The Leftovers” as a form of representation for those who didn’t get to have their story told.

Both pieces aim to provoke thought and open people's minds to new ideas. The Butterfly Effect works to make audiences think about the impact of their actions on other's experiences. The Leftovers looks to educate viewers and leave the audience with questions about their own perception of history.