PŌHAKU

** Purchase a ConFest pass for access to all festival shows, new play readings, conference sessions, workshops, and parties.**

Written, directed and performed by Christopher K. Morgan

Wednesday, August 15 @ 8pm
Thursday, August 16 @ 3:30pm

Pōhaku incorporates traditional Hawaiian chant, hula, contemporary dance, theater and storytelling to explore compelling universal themes in the story of Hawaii’s native people, including land loss and fractured identity. In this solo dance theater piece, Christopher K. Morgan connects his personal family story of outward migration away from Hawai’i to the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai’i, the islands’ colonial history, and its present day status.

About Christopher K. Morgan
Christopher K. Morgan is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Place in Washington, DC, where he oversees performances and a school for youth and adults. He is the Artistic & Executive Director of dance company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (CKM&A) and the Director of Dance Omi, an annual collaborative residency for international choreographers. Born in Orange County, CA, Morgan’s Native Hawaiian ancestry and a broad, international dance career influence his work as an administrator, choreographer, educator, facilitator, curator and performer. Morgan’s choreography has been presented in 18 countries on five continents, and was profiled as one of six breakout choreographers in the US in Dance Magazine 2011.

A Recipient of an NPN Creation Fund and NEFA National Dance Project Award, Pōhaku premiered in March 2016 at Dance Place and has toured nine other venues in Hawaii, California, New York, and Minnesota.

Pōhaku was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project,
with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Production residency funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Pōhaku is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund/Forth Fund Project co- commissioned by Maui Arts & Cultural Center in partnership with Dance Place and NPN. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). The Forth Fund is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For more information: www.npnweb.org