If you think you’ve seen everything theatre has to offer, think again. Belle – A Performance of Air, a fusion of aerial artistry, contemporary dance, and immersive storytelling, is set to take centre stage at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival—and it’s not just a show, it’s a movement.
Led by visionary director Malia Johnston, this all-female production is a powerful reclamation of space, strength, and storytelling. Featuring a cast and creative team made up entirely of wāhine, Belle – A Performance of Air challenges outdated gender expectations in the arts while delivering a visceral and visually stunning experience.
At a time when women continue to fight for recognition, agency, and leadership in creative industries, Belle proves that when women hold the reins, the results are extraordinary.
A Show That Breaks More Than Just Boundaries
Belle showcases women’s power, agility, and grace in ways rarely seen on stage.
With its intricate aerial choreography and daring physical feats, Belle is more than just an artistic spectacle—it’s a metaphor for breaking societal constraints.
“Aerial performance is a potent place to transcend gender constructs,” Jenny Ritchie, lead creative collaborator, aerial choreographer, and costume designer, tells Oliver Hall.
“The body, whatever the artist identifies as, flows in and out of strength and grace, blurring the lines of masculine and feminine expressions. When you are flying through the air, you exist beyond definition.”
For dancer and performer Brydie Colquhoun (Ngāti Kawa, Ngāpuhi), Belle speaks to the physical and emotional freedom that many women are still fighting for.
“This work makes me reflect on how many wāhine still have societal boundaries that prevent expression and freedom,” she says.
“But we, as Belle performers, have the freedom to challenge ourselves, push boundaries, and express strength and sensuality side by side. We train for this. We prepare for this. We earn this.”
Women Leading the Way in the Arts
Belle – A Performance of Air is what happens when women hold power in every corner of a production—from the performers on stage to the leadership behind the scenes.
At the heart of it all is Malia Johnston, one of Aotearoa’s most respected directors and choreographers.
“Malia is generous, steady, and holistic in the way she leads,” says aerialist and performer Imogen Stone. “She sees each of us as individuals, with our own qualities, strengths, and nuances. We stand in our own power while being part of something bigger.”
Colquhoun echoes the sentiment.
“With Malia as our guide, I feel seen and uplifted as an artist. She has an incredible ability to bring together women of all backgrounds and weave our stories, skills, and strengths into something deeply connected.”
For many of the Belle cast, working in an all-female environment has been a revelation.
“It isn’t often we get to work in spaces occupied and led predominantly by women,” says performer Kia Jewell.
“It has been something very special and healing for me. I’ve made some of my most treasured and important friendships through this process.”
This feeling of collaboration, sisterhood, and shared strength is something that is deeply embedded in the kaupapa of Belle.
“There is a collective intuition that we as women are able to tap into,” says Ritchie. “This is a space of creative autonomy, where ideas are safe to share and explore. It’s the space that many of us have been looking for.”
More Than a Show—A Call for Change
Despite the overwhelming success of women-led productions, all-female casts and creative teams are still underfunded, undervalued, and underrepresented in mainstream theatre.
So, how do we change that?
“By acknowledging these works and supporting them on their journeys,” says Ritchie. “By funding them. By celebrating them. By making sure that all-female productions are not seen as niche, but as essential to the future of the arts.”
Colquhoun adds that it’s also about addressing the ongoing power imbalances in the industry.
“Power imbalances are real, and they are at play as we speak,” she says.
“It’s crucial that the arts, culture, and communities are actively and collectively working towards balance. It’s not going to happen on its own.”
A Festival Highlight You Can’t Miss
With its bold physicality, raw emotion, and striking visuals, Belle is set to be a standout event of the Auckland Arts Festival.
For audiences, this show is more than just a performance. It’s an invitation to witness the full spectrum of feminine strength, vulnerability, and artistry.
“Each time I revisit this show, I think of how incredibly versatile we can be,” says Colquhoun.
“Our ability to be strong beyond belief, and in the next breath, so soft. The sensuality we inhabit can live next to our power and unwavering presence.”
For anyone who has ever felt boxed in by expectations, Belle offers an exhilarating reminder that we are capable of more than we have been led to believe.
And for those who believe in a future where women hold more space in the arts, the message is simple: go see Belle, and support the artists making it happen.
Catch Belle – A Performance of Air from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 March and experience wāhine rising—together, unapologetic, and unstoppable. For more info and to book tickets for Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival (6-23 March), visit aaf.co.nz.
