Who is Sisi’uno Helu? – Cultural, Choreographer Extraordinaire
Sisi'uno Helu is the choreographer and director of the piece 'New Dawn - Aho'eitu'. Sisi'uno shares with us a little about who she is…. I went back to Tonga, after graduating from the Conservatorium of Music, Brisbane, in Australia. At 22 years old, I was made Director for ‘Atenisi Foundation for Performing Arts, (AFPA) at my father’s school, ‘Atenisi Institute. AFPA performed classical anthems, European opera and Tongan music and dance. At the end of 1996, AFPA started touring continuously until 2002. The tours were to New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, California and Utah in the US and also to Fiji, Samoa and
MOANA Showcase – Tala Tupu’a
Tapa Tupu'a by Losaline Tupou features in our MOANA Showcase 2022. The piece was inspired by Losaline's grandparents, especially her grandma. She used to share bedtime stories to teach her the Tongan culture, networks, connections and why we do what we do. Losaline's grandmother made stories entertaining to target her grandchildren so they would be engaged. I chose the story of Hikule’o to create an opportunity to share the stage with all my sisters. We asked Losaline to use 5 power words to describe her short piece that features classics from the late HM Queen Salote (Loka Siliva) and Tuimalo Kalo
New dance reclaims old worlds
Lavinia Lovo has a question. Pacific peoples of all ability face challenges, she begins. So why are some identifying by physical disability first, Lovo asks, not cultural identity like most others Pasefika? “We have to stop identifying only by disability and start with culture,” she says to an audience of around 80 people, in July. Tightly-circled, that call was made at an event at Papaptoetoe town hall, hosted by YesDisability, PHAB Pacific and VakaTautua. “Without that identity, the culture is lost, and the message is lost.” Born with spina bifida just before the new millennium, Lovo is young enough as a youth leader to
Pacific Dance New Zealand 2022 Artist in Residence
Pacific Dance New Zealand's 2022 Artist in Residence is Tupumaiaga A Niue Trust. Omai Ke Koli Auloa, Siohooohoooe! Photo Credit: Raymond Sagapolutele The Tupumaiaga A Niue Trust are our 2022 Artist in Residence with a 9-week action-packed schedule that will cover all aspects of Niuean heritage arts, culture and dance with some of Niue’s finest masters. On the back of winning the Creative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Arts Award in 2021, the trust win is an acknowledgement of their work that has been established since 2007 to provide and promote Niuean cultural heritage workshops to Niue youth and families. It is also a recognition
The Transform Series II – ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani 2022
This year’s theme for ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani – Cook Islands Language Week is ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te Oneone o tōku ‘Ui Tupuna which means, connect me to the soil of my ancestors. We release three new episodes in our Transform Series II 2022 featuring our Aotearoa based Cook Island artists. Pacific Dance NZ will release 3 unique episodes to make the annual Cook Islands Language Week program. The episodes were all filmed in 2021 navigating lockdowns and alert level changes. Featuring three Aotearoa based Cook Island artists using dance to share their stories of