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!

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 of a strengthening relationship with the Pacific Dance Fono Trust and wider community. 

The Niuean language is currently classified as a ‘definitely endangered language’ by UNESCO which means that children no longer learn the language as a mother tongue in the home.   The 2022 Artist in Residence (AiR22) programme enhances the commitment by organisations like The Tupumaiaga A Niue Trust to encourage and inspire current and future generations to continue those unique activities that prolong the existence of aga fakamotu and vagahau Niue.

The Tupumaiaga a Niue Trust has a high level of social capital and will collaborate with a number of Niuean masters (Ioane Aleke Fa’avae, Mone Lakatani, Sam Tohilima, Niu College Vemoa, Leki Jackson-Bourke, Neville Luisi, Rob Luisi  and Sam Pilisi) to deliver the weekly workshops during the residency.   Participants will immerse themselves and learn the Niue Takalo, Ta Me, Costume Making (Titi Lau Ti and FouFou) and the Katoua.

‘The takalo is one part of our programme that we have included in our residency and a very important dance to the young men of Niue. It gives them a great sense of pride and belonging. But there is also a lack of understanding of the lyrics  and actions for some of the diaspora. Tupumaiaga A Niue Trust wants to run this programme to assist our young toa Niue to learn more about the takalo from some of our finest takalo tufuga and for them to learn  the spirit of the takalo and what it encompasses. We are also including the Ta Me, Katoua, Foufou, Titi Lau ti workshops. From Niue Island to New Zealand. From  Nukututaha to  Aotearoa. We give thanks for the blessings for  being a part of the Artist in Residence with Pacific Dance for 2022 . Fakamonuina mai he Atua .’    Zora Feilo, founding member of Tupumaiaga a Niue Trust and lead for the residency.

The residency will launch on Saturday 20^th August at the Wesley Community Centre and it will be the commencement of the 9-week schedule.  All workshops will be based at the Wesley Community Centre in Mt Roskill each Saturday, a virtual school holiday programme as well as dance programs with the schools in Marlborough and the NZ School of Dance in Wellington. The residence will conclude with a celebration and showcase during Niue Language Week on Saturday 22^nd October.

Omai Ke Koli Auloa, Siohooohoooie! Come One, come all let’s dance cheeehuu!

The residency is made available by Creative New Zealand.

Pacific Dance NZ Artist in Residence Program:

Week Commencing 20^th August 2022:

Free Public Workshops at Wesley Community Centre

704 Sandringham Road Extension, Mt Roskill

Rakiraki Room

Saturdays: 3–7 pm

Niue Takalo (All Male War Dance)

August: 20^th, 27^th & September: 3^rd

Ta Me – Celebration Action Song performed by females & males

September 10th, 17th, 24th

Make Katoua, Foufou, Titi Lau ti

October: 1st, 8th, 15^th

FINAL SHOWCASE

October 22nd

Click FREE Registration.

Virtual School Holiday Programme

Week Commencing: 10^th – 14^th October 2022

Niue Language Week: 15^th – 22^nd October, 2022Saturday 22^nd October 6-8pm, Artist in Residence Final Public Show (FREE)

TUPUMAIAGA A NIUE TRUST – AiR 2022

DATES AND WORKSHOP FACILITATORS (FOR PUBLIC RELEASE)