Honolulu Weekly

Black Grace / The tremendously athletic, energetic members of New Zealand’s all-male dance troupe Black Grace–whose background is in rugby, of all things–return this weekend to Leeward Community College Theatre.

One of the group’s pieces, entitled “Surface,” is inspired by Black Grace founder and choreographer Neil Ieremia’s father, who underwent a Pea tattooing–a traditional Samoan tattoo that covers half of the body–at the age of 64. Other pieces incorporate Samoan nursery rhymes. The group’s finale is a Faataupati, also known as Samoan “slap dance,” and believed to have derived from slapping insects off the body. Not to worry, though, with the air conditioning at the venue, it’s unlikely that any unwanted critters will join the fun.