Whakapapa, by Jolt Dance, shares the stories of six dancers with intellectual disabilities, exploring identity, culture, and ancestral connection through dance, text, and film.

Co-created by the dancers, each piece offers a deeply personal perspective: Joel Forman (Ngāi Tahu) reclaims his whakapapa, weaving together his Māori and Pākehā whānau and reconnecting to the whenua of Moeraki; Jokani Coe (Cook Islands/Samoa) honours the mountains of Rarotonga and the strength his culture gives him; Robert Sopoaga (Samoa) brings the vitality of Siva—the dance of life and community; Jono Bennett (Fijian Indian) evokes memories of his mother through the image of a beautiful old tree; Jacob Levington (Pākehā) reflects on his connection to each member of his close family; and Lachlan Oakes (Pākehā) reflects on his connection to whakapapa through his experience of autism.

Together, these stories celebrate individuality and move beyond labels of disability, offering a powerful vision of belonging and cultural pride.

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