Lisa Nathans, Victoria Scrimer, and Alexandra Whitham.
Lecturer in Voice, Alexandra Whitham, recently welcomed a contingent from The University of Maryland, USA, to share ideas and build a relationship for future collaboration.
The visitors: Lisa Nathans – Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, University of Maryland, and Victoria Scrimer – Graduate PhD Student, were aiming to lay a foundation for future educational and cultural exchange and collaboration, and experience Māori and Pacific culture, particularly female haka and waiata.
Here’s Alexandra’s rundown of the visitors’ experience…
“Lisa’s current research trajectory stems from her love of Classic Greek Drama and involves experiencing and learning about empowered female voices from various cultures and backgrounds, including the Irish/Scottish tradition of Keening and the Greek Lament. In New Zealand, Lisa and Victoria aimed to experience Māori and Pacific culture and learn about the traditions of Haka – specifically those that empower women. As an educator, Lisa is continually trying to learn and experience cultures other than her own, to bring back and share with her diverse student body at University of Maryland, in the hopes of helping them become more globally conscious citizens and humans.
Lisa and Victoria visited the Acting Department over several days, observing classes, engaging in discussion with me, John Davies – Academic Leader and Curriculum Leader of the Acting Discipline in PASA, Will Wallace – Screen Arts Acting Teacher, and Vanessa Byrnes – HoPP of Creative Industries, and our students. The conversations were very fruitful, and a warm relationship was forged between the visiting guests and the Acting School. Both groups feel excited about the possibility of future collaboration and knowledge exchange for both staff and students.
The karanga wanaga group
Knowing that Lisa and Victoria are particularly interested in Mana Wāhine and Māori performing arts, I set up a conversation between the guests and Whaea Lynda Toki and Whaea Jessica Aranui from Te Noho Kotahitanga marae team. By excellent serendipity, Whaea Lynda and Whaea Jess were running a Karanga Wānanga at the Unitec Marae on the weekend Lisa and Victoria were in Auckland, and they generously invited the guests to join them. On the Wānanga, Lisa and Victoria had the unique and precious learning experience of being immersed in Matauranga Māori: singing waiata, speaking Te Reo, learning about the sacred art of Karanga, and spending time with a group of wonderful women.
I met with Lisa and Victoria on the afternoon after their marae experience, and it was clear that they had learned a lot, had an extraordinary time, and made some lifelong friendships.”
This was reinforced when Lisa and Victoria wrote to express their thanks. Victoria said:
Alexandra Whitham, Jess Aranui, Lynda Toki and Lisa Nathans
“My experience at the marae was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. It was truly a transcendent experience and wonderful way to better understand Māori culture and also to further my own research into performances practices of activism and resistance. We were so honored to be invited to be a part of it. We so benefited from the educational opportunities and sharing atmosphere at Unitec and I look forward to any future endeavors!”
Whaea Lynda Toki said the wānanga was blessed to have Alexandra as a connector. She said: “our whānau has grown by two more beautiful spirits, who will no doubt bring more in the future, where Jess and I look forward to welcoming them to Wairaka when that opportunity arrives.”