EPISODE 9: MOLONAI MAKALIO and LAWRENCEA MATEARIKI
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Diving deep in their personal stories, Molonai Makalio and Lawrencea Mateariki openheartedly share their Polynesian culture and how dance has been a healing force in their life journey growing up in Western Sydney. Makalio reveals his inspiration behind his new work, STEP, at the intersection of hip hop, rugby and war dances. Mateariki explores how performing in ENCOUNTER directed by Emma Saunders led her to integrate her Cook Island dance practice with pedestrian dance.
HOST
POLA FANOUS
GUESTS
MOLONAI MAKALIO
LAWRENCEA MATEARIKI
EDITOR
VIR KAULA
MUSIC THEME
ALI SAGANCI
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
BLKB3RY (Ha’ele Ki Pilitania, courtesy of Molonai Makalio)
Running Time: 38 mins
Pola Fanous is a Coptic Orthodox Performance Poet, Author and Educator from Western Sydney. In 2017, Pola performed at the Parliament House of Australia and his poem Mr. War (Palestine) was utilized in a project awarded the 2017 Paramor Prize for Art and Innovation. In 2018 Pola competed in the Australian Poetry Slam National Final at the Sydney Opera House, where he was awarded the 2018 NSW Poetry Slam Champion. In 2019, Pola released STRONGSOFT, his debut collection of poetry, performing a National Tour with dates in Brisbane, Launceston, Hobart, and Melbourne. In 2020, Pola was the Narrator in Encounter – Emma Saunders’ cinematic Sydney Festival dance work. In 2021, Pola published his second book, a devotional on discovering love through faith titled Abba Father. Pola is currently completing his Masters in Secondary Education (Leading Teaching) at ACU whilst teaching English in a high school in Regional Victoria, as part of Teach for Australia’s Leadership Development Program.
Molonai Makalio is a founding member of Riddim Nation, a collective bringing the social aspect of dance culture to the Sydney dance scene since 2015. They practice all styles in street dance culture (Popping, Locking to Waacking, Breaking to Afro fusion, Hip-hop freestyle & House/Club dance), and bring elements of traditional culture into their dance practice. With Riddim Nation, Nai has taken part in exchanges, battles and cyphers as well sharing styles through clubs and parties.
Lawrencea Mateariki is trained in Cook Island cultural dance and contemporary dance. Lawrencea is a cast member of ENCOUNTER directed by Emma Saunders, produced and commissioned by FORM Dance Projects and presented by Sydney Festival in 2020. She recently performed in ENCOUNTER SYDNEY presented by the Sydney Opera House on the forecourt of the opera as part of Unwrapped 2022.
