Justice Kalolo joins Black Grace for a performance full of ‘Rage Rage’

Filled with energy, Black Grace is set to unleash the intense performance of “Rage Rage”, featuring 11 emerging dancers at the Aotea Centre this week.

This marks the third edition of the dance collective’s initiative to support rising creatives, known as Company B, which launched last year.

Among the new talents is Justice Kalolo, a 2024 graduate from Toi Whakaari and the recipient of the FAME Trust award in 2023.

Kalolo says Rage Rage is a show that explores themes of “anger, rage, and real emotion”, confronting these feelings on both personal and extensive societal levels.

“When it comes to rage, everyone has experienced it one way or another - whether that's been through arguments with your partners, your friends, or your parents.

“Or if you were to put that on a larger scale to things going on in the world right now, how does that make you feel, or does that anger you? If so, explaining it through movement and thoughts.”

Rage Rage is described as a “full-throttle response to the chaos of our times”, with dancers showcasing powerful and “explosive” movements.

Kalolo says the project has been therapeutic for understanding and expressing complex human emotions.

“For me, it’s really therapeutic to explore those through movement because in ways they are similar. Dance and moving are intense and tiring, but show our emotions, I guess, sometimes it takes a lot out of you.”

In true Black Grace style, the performance invites audience members to engage freely, allowing them to choose how they experience the show.

“I don't think there's one certain message that this show is trying to get to people,” Kalolo says. “I feel like that's up to the audience members and what they take from the show is completely up to them.”

To further cultivate upcoming talents, Founding Artistic Director Neil Ieremia ONZM collaborates with local theatrical powerhouses Leki Jackson-Bourke and Saale Ilaua, co-founders of Strictly Brown.

Kalolo says he is eager to learn from these experiences as he navigates new creative processes.

“I've enjoyed it so much…this is my first year out so I'm still fairly new and just experiencing new things, but it's been really really amazing. Strictly Brown and working with Neil they've got such a way of holding themselves in the room, it’s really inspiring.”

Black Grace’s permanent dancers include Demi-Jo Sefo, Rodney Tyrell, and Faith Schuster. Joining them are 2024 returning Company B dancers Deija Vukona, Azael Setu Uini-Faiva, Paige Downard, and Caleb Sagala.

New recruits for 2025 include Kalolo, Rila Shibasaki, Jakob Kremer, Lily Bourne, Zoe White, Siana Vagana, and Irā Tāhana.

Company B is supported by Performing Arts Partner Auckland Live, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited alongside Creative New Zealand, Auckland Council, and One Foundation.

Its aim is to platform “bold voices and big ideas”. Kalolo says it has been a a vital support, especially after graduation, when he faced the daunting realities of industry challenges and the lingering question of, “What now?

Justice Kalolo in the zone. Photo/Supplied

“If not, that was the one and only fear I had coming out of Toi,” Kalolo says. “Pretty much a freelancer…you don’t know what the next two weeks or even the next month is gonna look like.”

Despite these uncertainties, Kalolo is “grateful and thankful” for the opportunities he has had to work on stage and screen.

Kalolo also says he received confirmation on Tuesday that he will join the ranks of Black Grace, participate in classes, and go on tour later this year.

Rage Rage will be performed at the Aotea Centre on 4-5 June, with tickets available here.