Jade Whaanga is an Aotearoa (NZ) based Indigenous Dance Artist (Director/Choreographer/Performer) her whakapapa is Ngati Rakaipaaka and she was raised in Te Waipounamu. She completed her Masters in Dance Studies at The University of Auckland, Jade’s research focuses on re-claiming the indigenous feminine body and healing historical trauma through dance as ritual. In 2018 she was taught mau rākau by Malcolm Kerehoma (Ngati Whatua) at Te Wananga O Aotearoa. From 2016 till present she has built and maintained a relationship with Dancing Earth (an Indigenous contemporary dance creation company based in Ogaa Po Ogeh/New Mexico, USA), contributing as a performer in 4 cities, an administrator in Yelamu/San Francisco, and Assistant Director for Between Underground & Skyworld presented in 2019-20. Practitioner at Sacred Earth Retreat Jade delivers indigenous dance workshops regularly onsite. Since 2017 she has been facilitating Hui Wāhine (women circles) and Hui Ringatoi (Creatives gatherings) at various venues as the Director of Nū Collective.
