The Cultural Exchange & The HAKA!

                            –My Time in New Zealand Day 3 Part 2

Picking up from my previous post about Day 3 in New Zealand, it was back to rehearsal for a couple hours after some of the choristers challenged each other to a foot race, man that was funny! And I just missed the Artistic Director of YPC, Francisco Nuñez race against the pianist ’cause I had gone into one of the buildings that had a garbage can!

Dang! Would’ve LOVED to have seen that in real time. Luckily one of the choristers had it on video so I got to see it anyway. And laughed.

After rehearsal, we went into the dining hall for dinner and got a huge treat when Keri, one of our tour guides got up to sing. The company YPC hired to arrange our accommodations and activities Time Unlimited Tours, was absolutely FAN TASTIC planning the activities. And such nice people too. If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, be sure to check them out when making your plans.

And one of the things that’s so cool about the staff is that quite a few of them are singers and musicians.

And Then…

Keri was awesome singing songs we were familiar with and the kids (and I) partied hardy! We got up dancing and at one point, I started a gi-nor-mous conga line by grabbing one of the kids and putting her in the front. It was cool watching the line grow as eventually we got the attention of all 90+ kids including our Artistic Director who is never one to miss the fun.

I got a huge shock when Keri started singing a song that the kids had performed a few years ago and they all jumped up to do the choreography! I was so stunned and it brought a tear or two to my eyes. I was so touched.

Even MORE Fun!

After dinner, we went back into the wharenui (meeting room) for a cultural exchange. There were 9 young people from the Te Arawa tribe who did a demonstration of their songs alternating with YPC for a show and tell. They graced us with a traditional song:

They also taught some of the choristers something called Poi which is a performing art as well as the name of the equipment used.

Poi

After the trade-offs, it was time for the main event…THE HAKA!!!! I was so lucky to get an explanation of the significance and history lesson on this amazing art form…

The Māori youth of the Te Arawa tribe demonstrate The Haka for The Young People’s Chorus of NYC

So awesome to see The Haka in person and at the end of the demonstration, they taught it to some of the choristers.

Cultural exchange with the Māori youth of the Te Arawa tribe and The Young People’s Chorus of NYC

And with Francisco, there is never a dull moment. He did not prep me but called me up to teach a part of the dance to the Māori from one of their competition songs! He loves putting me on the spot. Unfortunately, I don’t have footage of me teaching the dance to the Māori youth but maybe something will turn up!

It was mad fun, and we were all so Joyful.

Next Installment: Auckland, Travel Day