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Through the movement methods of freestyle, visualisation, waving and free-writing, CONJAH facilitates warm and encouraging spaces to uplift participants through street dance methods.

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Suitable for ages 15+. No experience required.

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Multi-disciplinary artists CONJAH won a 2022 Arts Foundation Springboard award and were mentored by senior Māori artist and 2014 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Lisa Reihana.

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Jahra Wasasala and Ooshcon, under the collaborative world-bending entity of CONJAH, are a creative force within and beyond the mediums of dance, physical theatre, poetry and visual craft. Together, CONJAH brings forth the depths of their extensive solo body work, their whakapapa and their imaginations to build into each other’s visions, enabling them to do the same with the collaborators and artists they work with.Within their developments and performances, CONJAH focus on connection, world-building, excavation: Connection; strengthening intimate connections between the collaborating artists. World-building; building characters, stories and worlds into performance spaces. Excavation; creating body states and stories that shed realities as skins to reveal our own truths. Jahra Wasasala (jahra.xyz) Fijian and Pakeha and was born and raised in West Tāmaki Makaurau. Ooshcon (ooshcon.live) Samoan and Pakeha and was born and raised in Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta.

Statement from selection panel:

'CONJAH represents this fiercely unique, 21stcentury Moana Oceania energy that has been cultivated on the edge of the Pacific ocean in Aotearoa. They are channelling these forces, this epic ancestral magic, that can only be expressed in pure movement and body language. CONJAH deserves investment and support to ensure their craft can keep evolving, serving and manifesting.

Source: The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi

Jahra Wasasala will also be giving a talk following a screening of the film Wound, featuring their words and choreography. Friday 24 June at 2pm. Click here for more information.

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Click below to book for Conjah's dance workshop.