Preserving and Promoting Samoan Performing Arts

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1 Images from 14 th International Siva Afi Competition Siva Afi is seeking your sponsorship for its major event of this year 15 th International Siva Afi Competition 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd September 2016 Now in its 15 th year, the International Siva Afi Competition is the second longest running fire knife dance competition in the World, after the World Fire Knife Competition in Hawaii. The competition is the culmination of 12 months of community activities which include: Free fire knife workshops conducted weekly at Siva Afi s premises at Matautu-tai; Dinner and a full cultural show every week at Matautu-tai, attended by locals and tourists; Shows supporting other community & Government events, eg Govt. of Samoa, Samoa Victim Support, Alo Paopao, SBEC; Dance workshops and shows in villages in Upolu and Savaii; Attendance at other fire knife competitions, eg Hawaii. Contracts for fire dancers performing at Hong Kong Disneyland.

2 Melanie Lesoa, Intermediate winner Hawaii 2002, with brother Barry, Junior winner Below: Barry performing in Hawaii 2002 and as a finalist at the International Siva Afi Competition in THE BEGINNING The International Siva Afi Competition was first run in 2002 by Lene Leota of Siva Afi, who formed a fire knife dancing club, the Ailao Club in the same year. Its purpose was to preserve and promote the art of Samoan Fire Dancing and to support the development of young Fire Dancers living in Samoa. As a Fire Dancer for many years, Lene was concerned that many of Samoa s traditional and performing arts were being borrowed by other islands like Hawaii, Guam, Tahiti and New Zealand and claimed as their own, thus limiting Samoa s opportunity to capitalise on a growing worldwide interest in traditional performing arts. One of the first projects was to take a group of Fire Dancers to the World Fire Knife Competition in Hawaii in May The one female member of the group created history by being not only the first female to perform at the competition, but also the first female to win the Intermediate competition. Her brother, Barry won the junior competition in Hawaii the same year.

3 Hogan Toomalatai and Sakaio Pupualii, winners of the first International Siva Afi Competition in Top Right: Frankie Solomona, winner of the 14 th International Siva Afi Competition Bottom Right: Tuai Atonio, latest member of the Ailao Club to join Hong Kong Disneyland. SUCCESS STORIES TO CELEBRATE 15 YEARS Over the years we have trained 100 s of fire knife dancers, many of whom are working in Samoa or overseas and supporting their families. We are especially proud of 5 members of the Ailao Club who are currently working for Hong Kong Disneyland as fire dancers. Joint winners of the first competition in 2002, the NATIONAL BANK SIVA AFI COMPETITION were Hogan Toomalatai and Sakaio Pupualii, both of whom are now performing at Hong Kong Disneyland. Also now performing in Hong Kong is Evi Seumanutafa from Matautu-uta, who regularly returns to Samoa to visit his family and his Siva Afi family! Recent additions to Hong Kong Disneyland are Frankie Solomona and Tuai Atonio, both of whom started their careers as juniors in the Ailao Club. Frankie returned to Samoa in 2015, to win the 14 th International Siva Afi Competition. We are proud of all their achievements and proud to have been part of their international success.

4 WEEKLY WORKSHOPS & SHOWS Since 2002, Siva Afi has conducted FREE workshops every week for anyone who wants to learn the fire dance. The reason that these workshops are free is because Lene doesn t want kids who can t afford to attend the workshops to be left out. Lene training some of the young ones at the weekly workshop. Left: Walter, a fourteen year old star in the making. Lene believes you are born with talent, it is not something that can be bought, and some of our most successful fire knife dancers are not from highly educated or wealthy backgrounds. In 2003, realising that there was no point in training fire knife dancers if they had nowhere to showcase their talent, Lene started shows, covering traditional Samoan dancing. Highly popular dinner shows every week. The shows are always well attended by tourists, Samoans from overseas and locals who come to experience the authenticity of the cultural performances. These shows also help to provide many dancers with a valuable income.

5 VILLAGE ROADSHOWS Over the years Siva Afi has conducted several village road shows in remote villages in Savaii and Upolu. The format is a combination of workshops for kids in the village during the day, with a full shows for the whole village at night. The Village Road Shows have a dual purpose. Firstly to inspire the village kids and give them hope of a future dance career, particularly if they are not good at school nor excel in sports. Secondly to illustrate to our dance group and fire knife dancers, who are mostly town area people, the hardships experienced by kids who are growing up in remote villages. The shows at night are hugely popular with everyone, as they are designed to include performances from the kids who have been involved in the workshops and some very proud parents! Lene training kids at workshops in Savaii. Some of the kids waiting their turn to perform in the show at night.

6 HOW DO WE DO ALL THIS? The programmes we have undertaken and continue to undertake are evidence not only of Lene s passion and commitment to the youth of Samoa, but also his tireless energy in fundraising to support our activities. None of what we do would be possible without the support of our sponsors, many of whom have been with us since All are private sector companies, some small, some large who value the benefits they get by being associated with the work we do with the youth of Samoa. The International Siva Afi Competition provides financial benefit too, to the many people involved in it fire knife dancers, dancers, bar staff, catering staff. The total prize money alone is more than $10,000, the senior winner receiving $3,000 and a set of fire knives. We invite your company to join us in our mission to preserve and promote Samoan Performing Arts, as a sponsor for the 15 th International Siva Afi Competition and look forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.