Gates to Memory is a powerful multidisciplinary performance that weaves together movement, sound, and storytelling to embody the echoes of ancestral dreams and histories. Through the artistry of dance, music, and light, the work conjures spaces where the past, present, and future collide—where memory is not just remembered, but felt, breathed, and lived anew.

Co-choreographed and performed by Ella Williams and Stela Dara, this deeply personal and evocative piece honours whakapapa, identity, and transformation. Ella, of Canadian, Trinidadian, and Pākehā NZ descent, uses dance as a vehicle for liberation, creating work that opens pathways for thought and change. Stela, a Brazilian-born artist, fuses her cultural heritage with her craft, forging spaces where collaboration and expression flourish. Together, they navigate the intersections of history and imagination, building worlds that honour their lineages while forging new futures.

The performance is further elevated by the contributions of Chilean lighting designer and light artist, Elekis Poblete Teirney, known for her striking, ephemeral designs that transform the stage into an immersive landscape of memory and possibility. Conceptual music artist Jeanelle Frontin and Kevin Licorish, from CreaTech, bring depth and resonance through their sonic storytelling, creating an aural world that bridges time and space.

Gates to Memory invites audiences to witness the intimate act of remembering—of reclaiming lost stories and forging new ones through embodied performance. It is a call to honour those who came before, to hold space for those yet to come, and to move forward with the wisdom of the past woven into every step.