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by Aileen O'Sullivan and Toby Mills
When Black Grace, a dance troupe of Pacific Islander and Maori men, first burst onto the New Zealand stage in 1995, they were a revelation. Fusing traditional Pacific and contemporary dance forms with athleticism and grace, they electrified audiences. Led by Artistic Director Neil Ieremia, Black Grace evolved from a crew of Neil's "mates" into one of New Zealand's national treasures and conquered the world's dance festivals culminating with Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. This film follows Black Grace's journey from Cannon's Creek, a small town outside of Wellington, New Zealand to the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the oldest one of its kind in North America. (57 minutes)