Merenia Gray
Merenia is a freelance contemporary choreographer, dancer and teacher, based in Wellington, whose choreographic style reflects her bi-cultural heritage.
Teenaa raa koutou i muri i o koutou tini aiitua, teenaa raa koutou, teenaa raa koutou, teenaa raa koutou katoa.
Merenia is a freelance contemporary choreographer, dancer and teacher, based in Wellington. She has been working as a professional for the last decade both nationally and internationally.
Her choreographic style is reflective of her bi-cultural heritage and they range between pure dance to multi-media, including choreographing for commercials and fashion shows. A number of her works have been showcased in Hong Kong, Spain, France and America.
Ko Aoraki te maunga
Ko Waimakariri te awa
Ko Makawhiu te waka
Ko Tahu Potiki te tangata
Ko Tutehuarewa te marae
Ko Ngai Tahu te iwi
Ko Merenia Gray taku ingoa
Merenia has performed for all the major choreographers in New Zealand including Michael Parmenter, Douglas Wright and Mary-Jane O'Reilly. She has danced with Taiao Dance Theatre, Footnote Dance Company, Into Orbit, Susan Jordan and Co and Sidewalk Tango.
Internationally she has danced in Munich, Seville, New York, Paris, and Sydney. Merenia performed for reknowned NewYork Choreographers Doug Varone and David Dorfman while she lived and worked in Copenhagen.
She is a qualified teacher, as she graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1991, with a diploma in teaching and contemporary dance performance. Merenia is an Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and she holds her Advanced Royal Academy of Dancing Certificate. She also teaches N.Z.Q.A. (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) dance classes.
Merenia has developed her own contemporary dance technique that has its foundations in both classical and contemporary techniques. She has introduced traditional Maori dance into her technique, which captures the essence of the wairua (spirituality), which she believes, is the most integral element to dance.
A recent choreographic project was creating Pounamu (Greenstone) for The WOMAD Festival (World Music and Dance) in Auckland. It was choreographed for The Auckland Dance Company, and Wellington composer Helen Fisher composed the score. The Dorian Choir conducted by Rita Pacquian sung live for the event, and Richard Nunns and Hirini Melbourne performed traditional Maori instruments to accompany the performance. This project was funded with the support of Te Waka Toi.
Merenia is currently teaching at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre, and she is also working towards a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University.
A season of contemporary dance entitled 'Wild Civility' premiered in May 2000, in Wellington, and 'Te Mana' premiered in October 2003.