Maori dance steeped in tradition

Atamira Dance Company, a leading Maori performing arts entity from New Zealand, will make its China debut at the Beijing Dance Festival on July 25.

Atamira's artistic director Moss Patterson will bring Moko, a work choreographed by him, to the annual two-week festival that promotes contemporary dance in China.

The performance, which is based on a traditional art form of body tattoo in New Zealand, premiered in 2013 and toured the United States with a show at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival.