Lusi Faiva, a disabled Samoan dancer and actor, has won the Spirit of Attitude award at the 2020 Attitude Awards. The awards were held last night to celebrate the achievements of those in the disability community.
The Spirit of Attitude award acknowledges people who have had a unique journey and have risen to the challenges of their disability and applied a positive, ‘can-do’ spirit. Recipients have overcome significant personal challenges to achieve their personal goals.
Born with Cerebal Palsy, Lusi was taken away from her birth parents by the state and placed in an institution. She was adopted by the Jones family, who gave her the support she needed and enabled her to have continued development. At 13, she was reconnected with her birth mother and Samoan culture.
Faiva has been involved in the performing arts world for more than 29 years and was the founding member of Touch Compass in 1996. She has since toured with ‘Outer Limits’ in NZ and Australia, and her latest work/short film ‘Becoming Masina’ was presented in DocEdge’s film festival, coming second at DocArts. Faiva was commended at the 2019 Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards for her long-established dance career, outstanding advocacy for inclusive dance, and commitment to continue learning, teaching, collaborating and contributing.
