2005 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS: David Perry/Barbara Webb - David Perry & Associates
(415) 693-0583

Te Puia Kapa Haka Maori Dance Ensemble
Thursday - Saturday & Tuesday - Wednesday, August 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 -- 12:30pm

Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission & Third Streets, San Francisco
FREE!

7 July 2005 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA: As part of Kia Ora - San Francisco (the Maori way of saying "hello SF") New Zealand events in San Francisco during August will include dancers from the Te Puia Kapa Haka Maori Dance Ensemble who will perform in Yerba Buena Gardens, Thursday - Saturday & Tuesday - Wednesday, August 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, from 12:30pm to 1:30 pm. These events are presented by Toi Maori Arts and Tourism New Zealand in association with Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

The performances will consist of both traditional and contemporary dances with melodies ranging from monologue chants to beautifully composed songs. The Haka, a war dance is performed by men; Poi is a dance performed with a ball on the end of a string; Waiata-a-ringa is an action song; Tirakau is performed with long sticks; and Tititoria is performed with short sticks.

The dancers, Polly Hepi, Tania Fraser, Candice Richards, Eraia Keil, Kimiora Webster and Jamus Webster have performed extensively throughout the world.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which takes place from May through October, features over 150 events, including classical and jazz concerts, opera, performance art, international music concerts, dance performances, children's programs, theater, visual arts, puppet shows, cultural festivals, and special events.

All performances and events are free and open to the public, drawing an audience of San Francisco and Bay Area residents, tourists, and convention attendees that numbers more than 100,000 each year.

Free Artistic and Cultural Programming in Yerba Buena Gardens is made possible through the generosity of The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency; The Creative Work Fund; The Bernard Osher Foundation; The James Irvine Foundation; The JPMorganChase Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts; The San Francisco Arts Commission; The San Francisco Foundation; The WA Gerbode Foundation, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation; The Zellerbach Family Foundation; and individual contributions. We gratefully acknowledge pro-bono contributions from MJM Management Group; Steefel, Levitt, and Weiss; Latino Entertainment Partners; LaserCom Design; Moisa & Associates; Pro Piano; The San Francisco Marriott; Sony-Metreon; San Francisco Chronicle; San Francisco Downtown Magazine; and San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Yerba Buena Arts & Events, producer of The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is located at 760 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone (415) 543-1718; Fax (415) 543-1755; website: http://www.ybgf.org
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Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events

Mailing Address:
760 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415 543 1718
Fax: 415 543 1755
info@ybgf.org
www.myspace.com/ybgfestival