A Mealofa to Samoa – To Samoa with Love
Introducing the 2023 Pacific Dance NZ Artist in Residence Programme (Samoa) featuring Villa Junior Lemanu Pacific Dance NZ is excited to announce our 2023 Artist in Residence programme on the Beautiful Island of Samoa. And trust us when we say, it's going to be a game-changer! The Artist in Residence programme is a treasured gem in the Pacific Dance NZ annual calendar. For years, we've celebrated the beauty and diversity of Pacific dance and culture right here in Aotearoa New Zealand. But this year, we're raising the bar, and we couldn't be more excited about it! Say 'Talofa' to the evolution
TALENT: Mone Lakatani
By day Montyleigh (Mone) Lakatani works for the Waitakere Central library and juggles a sociology and Pacific studies degree. A true creative, Mone is active in the performing arts community and more notably in teaching, promoting and collaborating on a myriad of Pacific works. Mone enjoys performing and does not shy from the public with all his talents. He has performed in a choir, his own family band, Pasifika festivals and was also the music director for a siva academy. As a member of the Tupumaiaga A Niue Trust, Mone is facilitating the weekly workshops teaching Niuean dances Takalo and Tame
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