16 September 2005

RAW talent wanted

Local 10 to 15 year-olds in Avondale, Mt Roskill and Onehunga are being given the opportunity to tell their stories through free rap/poetry, drama and dance workshops.

Auckland City is once again running free six-week workshops through their ¡§Urban Suburbia served RAW 2005¡¨ project which kicks off on 17 October.

The aim of the project is to help young people find a voice using art by blending dance, poetry/rap and drama skills workshops to the programme.

"RAW gives youth in the community an opportunity to collaborate their talents with some of Auckland¡¦s finest artists. Last year¡¦s RAW was very successful with over 65 young people working towards stories about their community using dance, singing and poetry," says Diana Fuemana, community arts co-ordinator.

The workshops are taught by professional artists who have a gift for working with young people and passing on creative skills.

This year's tutors are:
„h Rap/poetry ¡V Daren Kamali and Erhman. Daren has recently released a single "No Matter What" and Erhman has released an album "The Path of Blood¡¥' Sony/BMG
„h Drama ¡V Fasitua Amosa and Fiona Collins. Fasitua is known on TV for 'Insiders Guide', and her theatre work includes Boys in the Band, and Bad Jelly the Witch. Fiona's theatre work includes Frangipani Perfume, and Vula
„h Dance ¡V Thomas Kiwi. Thomas is both a street and contemporary dancer and choreographer.

RAW has been promoted through schools and youth groups, and encourages young people to channel their energies into creative expression.

"We hope that RAW will encourage young people to get involved in local activities and help to build the types of communities to which we all want to belong. It's about celebrating diversity and building social cohesion in our city using arts as one of the drivers,¡¨ says Ms. Fuemana.

Public performances will be held at the end of the six weeks for the participants to showcase what they have learned.

The RAW arts programme was launched in 2001. It derived its name from professional artists working with the raw talent of young people from 15 to 21 years old and environmental materials to produce temporary environmental art. Last year's new RAW programme for ¡§tweens¡¨ (10 to 13 year-olds) was a huge success, according to Ms Fuemana.

All RAW youth arts projects are run by the Auckland City Council to encourage youth arts. For more information on how to enrol in the classes, please contact the participating community centre co-ordinators.

ENDS

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