A dance show that premiered in Auckland last night has a strong message for men - it's okay to feel.
Through the lens of Pasifika culture, the bold piece from Dance Company Black Grace explores the idea of masculinity.
"We've been taught to really appreciate that strong silent type," said company's founder Neil Ieremia. "I think it's a load of trash, really.
"Men should express themselves, and have a cry from time to time."
Ieremia came up with the concept and the choreography, all inspired by his own experiences.
"I grew up in a Samoan family and we were always taught to be a certain way, and of course growing up in New Zealand, which I guess is a very masculine society," he said.
"What started the ball rolling for me was a few years ago speaking to my cousin, who does a lot of work with Māori and Pacific Island men in prisons," he explained. "He was telling me, with every single person there'd be a moment where the hardened, tough guy would break down and cry."
Ieremia worked alongside well-known playwright Victor Rodgers to put the show together.
"I've been a huge fan of Black Grace pretty much from the beginning," Rodgers said. "Neil said, 'Come, have a play', and I said, 'Yes!' - jumped at the chance.
"This monologue just tumbled out of me and that's sort of the spine that's been used."
It's the first time the writer has worked on a narrative for a dance show.
The show explores issues like domestic violence and treatment of women, through the story of three generations of Pacific men.
"It's about patterns and how things happen with a father passing down his pattern of abuse and violence," Ieremia said.
Rodgers said the piece makes him "teary".
"It's dealing with truth - confronting truth, but in a beautiful but challenging way," he said. "There's a cathartic element to it, I think, seeing stuff like that reflected on the stage."
The last Auckland show is on Saturday, at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.
Next week the crew moves onto Ieremia's hometown - Porirua.
"A lot of those communities like Porirua miss out on art, particularly things like contemporary dance," Ieremia said.
Plans are also in the works for the show to be performed in New York next year.
"We do spend a bit of time touring internationally," Ieremia said. "We'll go over there and make more money in a few months than we will here in an entire year which enables us to bring the work and tour in New Zealand"
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