Aotearoa NZ Contemporary Street Dance and Japanese Hip-Hop, share their feelings and experiences on mental health.

Weaving stories of Dance Culture, Artist Mental Health and the importance of Soul-sister-hood for young women, all within the context of Dance as a universal language.
Conceived through the lived connection between Ehetere Rua (Ngāi Te Rangi, Aotearoa) and Eimi Kubota (Ibaraki, Nihon), who met and developed their friendship from dance first, instead of verbal English. 
This show is an ode to collective healing and finding your kindred.

‘essence’ debuted for two nights at the factory theatre, where it was there selected to be part of the onehunga arts walk 2024. the team at basement theatre reached out to invite ‘essence’ for a second season in april that wrapped up the work with a sold out closing show as eimi’s visa came to an end and she went home to nihon/japan.

“Beautiful. I’m a bit lost for words, but ultimately I just felt so good watching the show. I felt sad, I felt connected, and my wairua felt comforted at the same time. Amazing work, amazing performers, thank you for sharing”

“Absolutely beautiful. I interpreted it as navigation through different stages of mental well-being, with the ultimate realisation that our burdens are made lighter by community.”

“this show has inspired me to be more courageous and to try opening the door first a bit more. You never know what the next important connection is/can be in your life but you can always start with a, hi.”

we owe this show to our communities who donated, shared, participated and supported us – Big thank you to the factory theatre and he waka eke noa, boosted and basement theatre.