“E mamae le tava’e i ona fulu/The tava’e prides itself in its feathers” is this year’s theme for the 2024 cultural showcase for Le Masiofo Siva Academy.
Established in 2021, the Le Masiofo Siva Academy is now in its fourth season and will again put on an entertaining cultural showcase to help preserve and grow the Samoan culture within the younger generation.
The theme is from the Samoan proverb, “E mamae le tava’e i ona fulu/The tava’e prides itself in its feathers”.
After 11 weeks of rehearsals the group is finally ready to perform and it’s an opportunity that executive director Steva Auina says that they are all extremely pumped for.
“Everyone is hyped and everyone is just wanting to perform” Steva says.
“The team have done really well these past 11 weeks and we are just amped to get the show on the road. It’s been a tiring and long 11 weeks, but I will gladly do it all over again”
Steva is part of a volunteer and tutor group that consist of 22 people which facilitate and coordinate the group which has a total of just under 200 students.
Le Masiofo also has four sections that divide into separate age groups, with each class having a boy and girl section making it eight classes in total.
Based in New Lynn, the dance group originally was to cater for the Samoan community in West Auckland. But given its popularity and presence through the four years the group have now extended it throughout Auckland with members coming from as far as Karaka.
“It’s humbling when you think about how much this group means to alot of our members,” Steva added.
“This is our fourth year and when we had opened registrations we quickly reached full capacity due to a lot of people wanting to join”
“My cup is always overflowing especially hearing the feedback and positive comments we get from parents of our students who have seen them excel through their own cultural journeys”
While members learn and perfect their actions, it is also a chance for the group to connect and grow through their own personal journey in the Samoan culture.
Steva believes that having a safe space such as Le Masiofo allows many New Zealand born Samoans to express themselves through their love of cultural performances.
And with the theme “E mamae le tava’e i ona fulu//The tava’e prides itself in its feathers” front lining their showcase coming up, there is no question that their showcase will highlight all aspects of performance and cultural belonging.
“The theme we have chosen is pretty much self explanatory. Just how the tava’e bird is proud of its feathers, us as Samoans should be proud of our culture wherever you reside.Le Masiofo provides a safe space as a platform for these kids to come together and be close in our Samoan identity and culture” Steva added
“It allows us as adults and tutors to have an understanding of what our members/students are going through. Most of them come into the group with no exposure to Samoan culture, and then we hear that they join their polyfest school group after Le Masiofo”
“Those are the outcomes we strive for in our students”
As they make meaningful connections within their group, Le Masiofo does not shy away from opening discussions around serious cultural topics through their performances.
Last year, part of their pese o le aso/cultural song was met with mixed reactions and reviews after the lyrics touched on the malu (Samoan cultural tattoo) and how it is slowly losing its meaning in today’s society.
The lyrics were widely debated online with some agreeing and others disagreeing. For Steva however, knowing that their work was able to make such debates and discussion on the aganu’u/culture is something their group is satisfied with.
“I’m glad it went viral. It created so much discussion in our community through churches, villages and even other dance academies in the country”
“If anything, it became a reminder for us as Samoans to understand that what we wear from our culture, that it has an importance and sacredness about it”
As for their upcoming showcase this weekend and what it has to offer?
“It’s going to be good! I know the audience will be in for a shock because our craft and meaning is different. So expect to be amazed by it!
The show will run for two days at the Trusts Arena Stadium on the 12-13 July 2023.
Tickets here.
